Monkeypox has already been recognized on several continents. The virus has now been confirmed in Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy, France, Germany, Sweden, Canada, the United States and Australia.
The incubation period of the disease ranges from 7 to 14 days, but can also range from 5 to 21 days. The symptoms of the virus are believed to be less severe than those of smallpox.
With monkeypox, the patient begins to feel fever, muscle aches, chills, an increase in lymph nodes. Then a rash appears on the face, as with chickenpox or syphilis.
In this case, the rash can spread to other parts of the body, including the genitals.
In total, the disease lasts from two to four weeks.
Risk factors for smallpox transmission include sleeping in the same room, living in the same house, and eating or drinking from shared utensils.
At the same time, scientists suggest that now smallpox can be transmitted not only by airborne droplets, but also in another way – through mucus during sexual contact.
