September 3rd 2024.
A recently released colorized electron microscope image has revealed the presence of Mpox virus particles, represented in green, within infected cultured cells, shown in blue. This particular strain, also known as monkeypox, has now made its way into a prison setting. The Fort Dodge Correctional Facility in Iowa has reported cases of this highly infectious viral disease, as confirmed by authorities on Tuesday. According to the chief of staff for the Iowa Department of Corrections, the situation is being actively managed with stringent health measures in place.
Efforts are being made to provide care for those affected by the virus, while also implementing enhanced sanitation and isolation protocols to prevent any further spread. In terms of symptoms, Mpox is known to cause fever, rashes, lesions all over the body, as well as severe headaches and fatigue. The exact number of prisoners infected by this virus is not yet known, as per a spokesperson from the department of corrections. However, it has been confirmed that the type of Mpox found in the facility is clade II.
To provide some context, clade II is a milder form of Mpox that is typically found in West Africa and was responsible for the global outbreak that began in 2022. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the survival rate for this strain is over 99.9%. On the other hand, clade I, which is more commonly found in Central Africa, has been known to cause fatalities in up to 10% of infected individuals.
So, what exactly is Mpox? It is an infectious disease caused by the Monkeypox virus, which is closely related to the virus that caused smallpox. As a zoonotic disease, it is capable of spreading from animals to humans. In fact, Mpox has been found in various mammals, including small rodents and monkeys. The first recorded case of the Monkeypox virus was in 1958, within colonies of monkeys, but its origins still remain a mystery.
As mentioned earlier, the type of Mpox detected in the Iowa prison is clade II, the less severe strain. Symptoms of Mpox usually include a rash that goes through various stages before eventually healing, along with fever, sore throat, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, and low energy. The virus can be transmitted through skin-to-skin, mouth-to-mouth, and skin-to-mouth contact, and can even be passed from a pregnant mother to her child.
Unfortunately, there is currently no approved treatment for Mpox. However, there are several antiviral medications that have been used to treat smallpox and other related conditions, and have shown some promise in helping patients with Mpox. As for prevention, there are vaccines available to protect against this virus, some of which were used to eradicate smallpox and have been approved for use against Mpox. The World Health Organization recommends the MVA-BN or LC16 vaccines.
Mpox has spread to various countries around the world, with over 99,000 cases reported in 122 different locations as of August 6, according to the CDC. Interestingly, the majority of these countries, about 155 of them, had never reported Mpox cases in the past. This includes countries like the US, UK, and other parts of Europe that are now affected. Only seven nations have historically reported cases of Mpox, all of which are located in central and western Africa. In fact, the first reported death related to monkeypox in the US occurred in Texas in August 2022.
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