Monkeypox: A Danger to Humans and Animals?

As “monkeypox” makes headlines this week, many are wondering whether it risks becoming the new COVID-19.

So far, 92 cases have been identified in countries where the disease is not endemic. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, and a blistering rash in those who contract the virus.

Positive cases have been found in Australia, Canada, and the USA, while the European countries Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, and the Netherlands have all reported cases.

Spain and Portugal each had between 21 and 30 cases as of Sunday. However, the highest number is in England.

Previous outbreaks in the United Kingdom and Israel were linked to travel to Central and West Africa, where the disease is endemic. But human-to-human transmission now appears to be occurring in Europe on a larger scale than before. The fact that the chain of infection cannot be traced in some cases suggests that not all infections in the population have yet been detected. Men who have sex with men should seek medical attention immediately if they notice any unusual skin changes.

In Nigeria, monkeypox infections in humans have been diagnosed more frequently since 2017 – and cases have been linked to travel there.

Monkeypox is generally mild, and no deaths have yet been recorded among positive cases in Europe, North America, or Australia – meaning it poses a much lower threat than COVID-19.

Human smallpox has been considered eradicated worldwide since 1980, following a major vaccination campaign. In the meantime, however, large parts of the world’s population are thought to no longer have protection through vaccination.

But where the two share some similarities is that they are both zoonotic diseases, transmitted from animals to humans.

What are zoonotic diseases?

It is believed that COVID-19 spread from a bat kept at a wet market in China. Other zoonotic diseases that have jumped from animals to humans include HIV/AIDS, anthrax, and Ebola.

Monkeypox was first discovered in monkeys in 1958, and the first documented case in humans was in 1970.

In African countries where the disease is more common, evidence of the monkeypox virus has been found in many animals, including rope squirrels, tree squirrels, Gambian pouched rats, dormice, and many species of monkeys.

Transmission from animals to humans can be caused by a bite or scratch, with rodents being the most likely carriers.

The trade in exotic pets promotes the spread of zoonoses and pandemics. The exploitation of wildlife and the trade in exotic animals are considered triggers of the current coronavirus pandemic and have previously led to further highly contagious and deadly pandemics: among others, the SARS pandemic, avian influenza H5N1, Ebola fever, and AIDS are all of animal origin.

Politicians have learned nothing from the coronavirus crisis, otherwise they would have long since banned the uncontrolled trade in exotic animals. 75% of newly emerging infectious diseases have an animal origin. At 72%, the largest proportion of these zoonoses result from contact with wild animal species.

Other zoonoses can be transmitted through inadequately prepared meat and animal products; This is how anthrax was originally spread.

With monkeypox, the current transmission from person to person in non-endemic countries occurs through close contact between individuals.

While diseases such as COVID-19 and Ebola pose a greater threat to life than monkeypox, zoonotic diseases present particular challenges for the human population.