Monkeypox Is Now A Global Health Emergency—Here’s What You Need To Know

A sudden rise of a rare disease known as monkeypox has sparked recent concern worldwide. A virus originally identified in the late 1950s, monkeypox has been reported in 12 countries across the globe since a May 2022 outbreak, the largest outbreak recorded outside Africa since 2003.

While no deaths have been reported thus far, and the mortality rate for monkeypox is typically low (3% to 6%), more than 130 cases have been recorded since the initial outbreak in May. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a travel alert encouraging people to “practice enhanced precautions,” particularly in countries with known cases, which includes the U.S., Canada, England, France, Spain and Australia, among others.

What Is Monkeypox?

Discovered in 1958, monkeypox is a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus, according to the CDC. Its name stems from its origin story, when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in towns where monkeys were being contained for research.

Monkeypox is caused by a viral infection, which can occur through various types of interaction with the virus, such as contact with an infected person or animal. The virus can be spread through the exchange of bodily fluids or skin lesion material of an infected person, as well as through the respiratory tract via large droplet particles. Transmission of these particles requires prolonged face-to-face interaction, the CDC notes.

Monkeypox can enter the body via broken skin or through the respiratory tract, as well as through the eyes, nose or mouth. Cases have been reported in people who self-identify as men who have sex with men, according to the CDC, but it remains unclear how people in these clusters were infected with monkeypox.

A vaccine for monkeypox does exist, and a vaccine developed to prevent smallpox is also thought to be an effective treatment for monkeypox, according to the CDC. As of May 2022, the CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) do not recommend mass vaccinations and note vaccination is only needed for laboratory workers at risk of exposure, as well as military personnel.

What Are Symptoms of Monkeypox?

Typical monkeypox symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, swollen lymph nodes, rash and pustules, according to Anthony Santella, a professor and interim chair of University of New Haven’s Department of Health Administration and Policy.

“If you exhibit any symptoms, particularly a rash or pustules, reach out to your primary care provider right away, as many of the signs and symptoms of monkeypox are unique to this illness,” says Santella.

The CDC adds that a day or two after the onset of fever, patients often develop a rash on the face that then spreads to other parts of the body. The illness takes anywhere from two to four weeks to run its course, and severe cases can occur.

​​As of May 18—the latest update posted by the CDC—only one case of monkeypox is confirmed in the U.S. (in Massachusetts). A handful of additional cases are suspected, though, and infections are expected to increase in coming weeks, according to health officials. How much spread, of course, remains to be seen.

Though the prognosis for patients with monkeypox is good, Santella says it’s essential to seek treatment as early as possible. “While there are no monkeypox-specific treatments, recovery using antivirals has proven beneficial, with most infected persons recovering within a few weeks,” he says. “The key to a good prognosis is getting diagnosed early, going on treatment to manage the symptoms and contact tracing for possible exposures.”

How to Avoid a Monkeypox Infection

While symptoms can be alarming, people in the U.S. need not be overly concerned about the recent monkeypox outbreak, according to Santella. “Monkeypox is extremely rare—especially in highly developed countries like the U.S.,” he says. “There are other pressing health concerns of public health significance like COVID-19 and flu that impact population health on a much larger scale.”

Monkeypox is not known to spread very easily; however, proactive vigilance should be a priority. “It’s important for everyone, regardless of their health status, to be vigilant about monitoring their health and reach out to their primary care provider if they exhibit any symptoms,” says Santella.

As for avoiding infection, Santella recommends staying current with travel immunizations and closely monitoring CDC health advisories to see where monkeypox cases are being reported. It’s also worth noting where monkeypox is endemic, says Santella, such as African countries including Benin, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone.

Safe sex is another crucial component of preventing monkeypox infections. “Current monkeypox cases seem to be slightly more prevalent among men having sex with other men,” says Santella. “While monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection, it can spread when there’s close contact with the lesions of an infected person.”

Maintaining Your Mental Health

If news of another rare disease occurrence is causing former pandemic anxieties to surface, there’s one tactic in particular you can try to maintain your mental health.

“No one on planet Earth needs another unpleasant health crisis right now, much less the specter of another transmissible virus with extremely unpleasant side effects,” says Marius Commodore, M.D., medical advisor to Nurx, a personalized health care company. To help people remain calm among emerging monkeypox headlines, Dr. Commodore recommends managing your news intake.

“Find a fair and credible news source, devote an hour to it each day, then consume no other media sources,” he says. This approach prevents the brain from being bombarded continuously with imagery and information that may be overwhelming.