Does Monkeypox Come From Mosquitoes?
During the first week of infection, some people develop no symptoms at all. However, others do develop a fever and rash. The infected individual may also experience mouth and throat lesions.
The monkeypox virus is part of the smallpox family. It can cause flu-like symptoms and swollen lymph nodes. It’s not clear if mosquitoes transmit the virus, though.
The disease is spread by contact with the infectious rash and respiratory droplets from the infected person. It’s also spread through sexual contact. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid skin-to-skin contact. You can also protect yourself by covering any exposed areas with gloves and long-sleeved shirts.
There are two vaccines that are used to prevent monkeypox. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends getting the smallpox vaccine. It’s available through your local health department.
Unlike the smallpox vaccine, the West Nile virus is not a good option for preventing monkeypox. The disease has been seeded into the bird population. This makes it difficult to contain the outbreak in the United States.
The best option for preventing this disease is to avoid exposure to wild animals. The disease can also be transmitted to pets, but they are not as at risk as humans.
Monkeypox is a disease that’s serious, especially if you have an immune deficiency. It’s also particularly dangerous for children and pregnant women.
As of January 2018, the US is at the center of a monkeypox outbreak. Health officials are trying to limit the spread by distributing 1.1 million doses of a monkeypox vaccine. They say about 3.5 million doses will be needed to curb the epidemic.