Written By: Lye Jae Vir (22-I1), Nur Khairunnisa (22-I1), Tan Ken Shin (22-A2), Hao Rui (22-A4)
Designed by: Alexia Teo (22-U1)
How it all started :
In 1958, monkeypox was first identified in colonies of monkeys during an outbreak at an animal research facility in Copenhagen, Denmark. However, the first human case occurred in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a nine month old old boy. This occurred in a region that had just recovered from smallpox in 1968.
Since 1970, cases of monkeypox have arisen in Africa, such as in West and Central Africa. An outbreak outside of the Africas occurred in 2003 in the United States of America due to imported infected prairie dogs from Ghana, which led to over 70 new cases.
Prior to 2022, several travel associated cases had been reported in the UK, Israel and the USA due to travellers from Nigeria.
How did it come to Singapore?
On the 21st of June 2022, the first case of Monekypox was reported in Singapore. This came from a 42-year-old British male national who works as a flight attendant. He tested positive for monkeypox on 20 June. He is currently admitted to the National Centre for Infection Diseases.
At the time of reporting, there are 10 reported cases of monkeypox which are unrelated.
Photo from REUTERS
How it transmits :
- Interpersonal transmissions include through direct contact with the skin, infection rash, scabs or bodily fluids of an infected individual.
- It can also be transmitted via respiratory secretions during prolonged physical and face-to-face contact.
- Touching belongings such as clothing that have made contact with the infection rash or bodily fluids is also
- Foetuses can also be infected through the placenta should their pregnant mothers be infected.
Symptoms of infection.
Common flu symptoms such as fever and headache. More unique symptoms include swollen lymph nodes and rashes across the body. Symptoms may appear from 5 to 21 days following infection. People with the infection are generally infectious from onset of fever until the skin lesions have scabbed over.
Photo from the Indian Express
What does this mean for us?
Since monkeypox is spread primarily through direct contact rather than respiratory droplets, the likelihood of another pandemic as severe as COVID-19. Furthermore, our government would be more prepared for the pandemic with the covid measures still in place. However, we should still be vigilant and aware of this virus. Stay safe Eunoians!
The Origin* 