Monkeypox: Scientists warn of dangerous mutations of the virus

University of Missouri researchers have identified that monkeypox virus is now able to adapt and bypass the protection of vaccines and medicines

Researchers at the University of Missouri in the United States have identified specific mutations in the simian (monkey)pox virus that contribute to its continued infection.

According to the team of scientists, these mutations have made the virus stronger and more adaptable, bypassing the protection of vaccines and the effect of antiviral drugs. The result of the study was published in the scientific Journal of Autoimmunity.

“By doing a temporal analysis, we were able to see how the virus evolved over time. An important finding was that the virus is now accumulating mutations specifically where drugs and vaccine antibodies are supposed to bind,” said the researcher Shrikesh Sachdev.

“So the virus is getting smarter as it’s able to avoid being targeted by drugs or antibodies from our body’s immune response and continues to spread to more people,” he added.

The team analyzed the DNA sequences of more than 200 monkeypox virus strains, from 1965, when the virus first began to spread, to epidemics in the early 2000s and again in 2022.

In the current outbreak, the virus has infected more than 77,000 people in more than 100 countries, and the death rate has been around 3.6%, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) report.

Symptoms of monkeypox infection

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), the main symptoms of monkeypox are:

• Fever;
• muscle and back pain;
• He retched;
• Diarrhea;
• Chills;
• Sore throat;
• Headache;
• Skin lesions.

The latter symptom is also the main feature of the disease. Previously, these lesions appeared scattered throughout the body and in large numbers, but this did not happen in all cases, as warned by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States. Instead, some people diagnosed with monkeypox have a single spot or blister.

Streaming

According to the WHO, the main forms of contagion are:

• Contact with droplets exhaled from an infected person (human or animal);
• Contact with skin lesions caused by illness or contaminated materials such as clothing and bedding.

Prevention

Like most infectious diseases, monkeypox can be prevented with a few simple hygiene measures, such as:

• Wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol gel to avoid exposure to the virus;
• Avoid contact with infected people;
• Keep away from sick animals (alive or dead) that can harbor the virus, such as rodents, marsupials, and primates;
• Wear masks and other personal protective equipment.

Furthermore, it is important to avoid using objects from contaminated people.

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Source: Terra

Benjamin

Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.