Monkeypox (cont.)
How did these people become infected with monkeypox virus?
On the
basis of preliminary investigations, it appears that most of the patients
became ill after having close contact with infected prairie dogs that had
been purchased as pets. Some patients may have been infected though
contact with other infected animals, including a Gambian giant rat
(purchased as an exotic pet) and a rabbit. In addition, the possibility of
human-to-human transmission in some cases cannot be excluded at this time.
What evidence is there that monkeypox virus causes these illnesses?
The
clinical features of the illness in U.S. patients - fever, headache,
muscle aches, and rash - are consistent with those of monkeypox. There
is also strong laboratory evidence of monkeypox. Scientists at the
Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield, Wisconsin, recovered viral isolates from
a patient and a prairie dog. Using an electron microscope, they found that
the virus had the size and appearance of a poxvirus. Laboratory tests at CDC - including
several PCR-based assays, serologic tests, electron microscopy,
immunohistochemistry, and gene sequencing - confirmed these results and
showed that the virus is Monkeypox virus.
Has monkeypox previously been reported in the United States?
No. Prior
to the recent report of the disease in the United States,
community-acquired monkeypox had never been reported outside of Africa.
How was monkeypox introduced in the United States?
There is
not enough information to determine with certainty how monkeypox arrived
in the United States. One hypothesis is that the prairie dogs contracted
the virus from infected Gambian giant rats, which were housed in the same
animal-holding facility or pet shop as the prairie dogs. The Gambian giant
rats were likely imported into the United States from Africa. Studies have
shown that Gambian rats and other rodents in Africa have evidence of
monkeypox virus infection.
Next: What should people do if they think they have been exposed to an animal or
person with monkeypox? »
- Healthcare Issues - Healthcare Issues Center: Read doctor's views, health features, procedures & tests, diseases and conditions and health news on MedicineNet.com.
Latest Medical News
Travel Health RSS