Monkeypox cases harder to detect – Health Experts

US: US health experts said that cases of Monkeypox that are being detected at the moment do not necessarily display the usual symptoms, making the disease more difficult to diagnose.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stressed that identifying cases was crucial to curbing the spread of the disease.

“We have seen presentations of Monkeypox that are mild and sometimes only limited areas of the body, which differs from the classic presentation seen in endemic countries in Western Central Africa,” said Rochelle Walensky, head of the CDC.

“This has prompted concern that some cases may go unrecognized or undiagnosed,” she added, urging increased vigilance among members of the medical profession and the public in general.

Current cases do not always present flu-like symptoms, such as fever, body aches and swollen glands that typically precede the appearance of the rash characteristic of the disease.

Additionally, while these rashes typically appear all over the body, many current cases are limited to certain areas.

“It’s important to be aware that Monkeypox cases may present similar to some sexually transmitted infections,” such as herpes, “and could be mistaken for other diagnoses,” Walensky said.

– INDIAN EXPRESS