Monkey pox and friends
Why is the disease called "Monkey Pox"?
The first human case was reported in 1970.
Which one of these is not a proven route of transmission of Monkey pox?
Research is continuing into this. Contact with infected clothing is also recognised as a way of transmission as is preparing meat from an infected animal.
Which of the following is untrue about monkey pox?
A few children have now been diagnosed with monkey pox outside Africa.
Which of the following concerning the rash of monkey pox is inaccurate?
The lesions do often affect the mucous membrances. They are well circumscibed and develop from macule to papule to clear filled vescicle on to being a pustule. The pustule then umbilicates, crusts and finally falls off. The palms of the hands and soles of the feet are often affected. Incidentally lymphadenopathy is common.
Which exotic pet is thought to have introduced Monkey Pox to the USA?
The Gambian giant rat was imported to Texas---infected the priarie dogs which then infected humans. Incidentally the Gambian giant rat is used to smell out land mines in Cambodia and even is used to detect the presence of TB in mucous.
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/giant-rats-trained-sniff-out-tuberculosis-africa
Which of the following is untrue about the Monkey Pox vaccine(s).
The USA and Europe have a second vaccine which can be used in a greater number of people. In Australia at the moment the vaccine can only be given to close contacts of a known monkey pox case.
The current monkey pox outbreak is by a less virulent strain. What is the present death rate in the USA and Europe?
At the time of writing there had been no deaths outside of Africa with this strain. There have however been a few deaths in African countries.Historically the WHO has the death rate at 3-6%.
Is chicken pox related to monkey pox?
Chicken pox unlike monkey pox is highly contagious. It is the Varicella Zoster virus and mainly affects children. Unsure why chicken pox is called that---theories are that the lesions look like chick peas, or the one that I prefer, that the lesions look like you have been pecked by a chicken.
Which of the following is incorrect about small pox.
In fact the last known naturally occuring case of small pox was in Somalia in 1977. In Australia the last case was 1938. Milk maids got cow pox from milking cows who were infected. The word vaccine comes from the Latin word for cow---vacca.
What is a young Johnny Depp deeply concerned about here?
HIV/AIDs cases were rising and a young Johnny Depp decided to use his profile to be part of a health campaign. Well before Willy Wonka, Captain Sparrow or Amber Heard.