MONKEYPOX

TAG: GS-3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

CONTEXT: Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Boston University have developed an optical biosensor that can rapidly detect the virus that causes monkeypox, mongoose. This technology could allow physicians to diagnose the disease at the point of care rather than waiting for laboratory results.

EXPLANATION:

About Monkeypox:

• • It is a viral zoonotic disease (transmission from animals to humans) and is identified as a pox-like disease among monkeys hence it is named Monkeypox.
  • Monkeypox virus infection has been detected in squirrels, Gambian poached rats, dormice, and some species of monkeys.

• • The first case in humans was reported in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • According to the WHO, cases occur close to tropical rainforests inhabited by animals that carry the virus.
  • According to the WHO, two distinct clades are identified
    • the West African clade
    • the Congo Basin clade (the Central African clade

What is Zoonotic Disease?

• • A zoonosis or zoonotic disease is an infectious disease of humans caused by a pathogen that can jump from a non-human vertebrate to a human. When humans infect non-humans, it is called reverse zoonosis or anthroponomic. Major modern diseases such as Ebola and salmonellosis are zoonoses.

Transmission:

• • Transmissioncan occur through contact with bodily fluids, lesions on the skin or on internal mucosal surfaces, such as in the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets and contaminated objects.
  • The incubation period (the period between exposure to an infection and the appearance of the first symptoms) of monkeypox is usually from 6 to 13 days but can range from 5 to 21 days.

Symptoms:

• • Common symptoms of mpox are a skin rash or mucosal lesions, Fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes which may lead to a range of medical complications.
  • It also causes the lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy), which does not exist in smallpox.
    • There is no effective vaccine available for Monkeypox infection.

Source:

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/optical-biosensor-rapidly-detects-monkeypox-virus/article68872523.ece