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Published On: Sun, Jun 22nd, 2014

Suspected monkeypox reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Two people died from a disease that has the same symptoms as  monkeypox; 12 cases recorded in two weeks, in the locality of Bangangala in territory Bomongo (Equatuer), Democratic Republic of the Congo(DRC), according to a Radio Okapi report (computer translated).  Health specialists have not yet confirmed if it is really the disease monkeypox.

Monkeypox/CDC

Monkeypox/CDC

“I have already called the Minister of Public Health. I even wrote him and I booked a copy to the Prime Minister and I expect the government to act quickly.Health centers do not have the required infrastructure to accommodate the sick and administer appropriate care , “said Patrick Mayombe.

It is a relatively rare virus found primarily in central and western Africa. The disease is caused by Monkeypox virus. It is closely related to the smallpox virus (variola), the virus used in the smallpox vaccine (vaccinia), and the cowpox virus.

Infection with monkeypox is not as serious as its cousin, smallpox; however, human deaths have been attributed to monkeypox.

According to the CDC, the symptoms of monkeypox are as follows: About 12 days after people are infected with the virus, they will get a fever, headache, muscle aches, and backache; their lymph nodes will swell; and they will feel tired. One to 3 days (or longer) after the fever starts, they will get a rash. This rash develops into raised bumps filled with fluid and often starts on the face and spreads, but it can start on other parts of the body too. The bumps go through several stages before they get crusty, scab over, and fall off. The illness usually lasts for 2 to 4 weeks.

Rodents, such as rope squirrels, door mice and pouched rats, are the suspected reservoir hosts, with monkeys and humans as secondary, spill-over hosts. The monkeypox virus in the Congo has a higher case fatality rate than the virus in West Africa, where fatal cases are rare or absent, according to a ProMed moderator.

People at risk for monkeypox are those who get bitten by an infected animal or if you have contact with the animal’s rash, blood or body fluids. It can also be transmitted person to person through respiratory or direct contact and contact with contaminated bedding or clothing.

There is no specific treatment for monkeypox. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page

A 2010 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, says that  since the last doses of smallpox vaccine were given in 1980 and smallpox was officially eradicated, cases of monkeypox have increased 20-fold according to the study.

Much of this is likely due to the immunity that smallpox vaccine granted to related viruses like monkeypox. Most of the patients infected with monkeypox were born after the discontinuation of smallpox.

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About the Author

- Writer, Co-Founder and Executive Editor of The Global Dispatch. Robert has been covering news in the areas of health, world news and politics for a variety of online news sources. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the website, Outbreak News Today and hosts the podcast, Outbreak News Interviews on iTunes, Stitcher and Spotify Robert is politically Independent and a born again Christian Follow @bactiman63

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  1. History and Transmission | Monkeypox Project says:

    […] Herriman, R. Suspected monkeypox reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, (June 22, 2014). Outbreak News. The Global Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2015. http://www.theglobaldispatch.com/suspected-monkeypox-reported-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-cong… […]

  2. USDA to investigate CDC anthrax breach as number exposed rises, not the first …Report Breaking News | Report Breaking News says:

    […] […]

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