Cases of monkeypox virus are increasing rapidly. This virus has spread from Africa to Sweden and Pakistan and there is a risk of its cases in India as well. The government has prepared hospitals to treat monkeypox patients, as it is an infectious disease that spreads from one person to another and can also cause death in some cases. Experts have advised to take special precautions to prevent this virus, especially for those who were born after 1980. Let us know why people born after 1980 are more at risk of monkeypox.
Monkeypox and smallpox: similarities and differences
The symptoms of both monkeypox and smallpox viruses are quite similar. Monkeypox is a virus of the smallpox family, which originated in Africa decades ago. This virus spread from monkeys to humans and then started transmitting from one person to another. The effects of monkeypox and smallpox viruses are also similar in many cases. For people who have been vaccinated against smallpox, the risk of monkeypox may be reduced.
Why are people born after 1980 at greater risk of monkeypox?
There were many cases of smallpox virus from the 1960s to the 1970s. Mass vaccination was done to prevent it and the cases soon decreased. By 1980, smallpox cases were declared to be over and its vaccination was also stopped. Only children born till this time were given the smallpox vaccine. Those born after this did not receive this vaccine, so they are at a higher risk of being affected by monkeypox.
How effective is the smallpox vaccine?
According to epidemiologist Dr. Jugal Kishore, people born till 1980 have been vaccinated against smallpox, which may reduce their risk of monkeypox. However, this does not mean that people who have been vaccinated against smallpox are completely safe from monkeypox. The virus can infect them, but the symptoms are less likely to be severe. Therefore, it is necessary to be cautious.
Danger of new strain of monkeypox
Currently, the strain of monkeypox has changed, which has increased the risk. Surveillance at airports will have to be increased and if a person shows flu-like symptoms and rashes on the body, he should be isolated immediately. The monkeypox virus is not as contagious as Covid, but its mortality rate can be high.
Can smallpox vaccine be given now?
According to Dr. Kishore, vaccination was done with smallpox vaccine Jynneos and ACAM2000 after monkeypox cases in the US and Europe in 2022. However, smallpox vaccine is not available in India after 1980 and it is only present in the lab in the US and Russia. Therefore, this vaccine is not available for the general public in India. In such a situation, it is very important to be alert and prevent monkeypox. Given the increasing cases of monkeypox virus, it is important to be alert and have the right information. People born after 1980 should take special precautions and should not ignore any unusual symptoms.
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