The Appearance of MonkeyPox Virus

 

The World Health Organization has declared MPV a public health concern. This might be an overreaction considering COVID-19 has the ability to be more lethal. The pandemic has not ended and energy should be concentrated on that outbreak. MPV's fatality risk is estimated to about 3 % to 6%. The disease does not have the same potential for a massive public health crisis. The virus is classified as an orthopoxvirus genus and part of the poxviridae family. At the moment there are over 16, 500 cases reported from a total of 74 countries. The virus has a similarity to smallpox, but the degree of severity is lower. The  number of cases is lower than that of COVID-19 so declaring a public health emergency of international concern could be premature. The reasoning is to have proper precaution. However, this can only induce international panic among the world population . The virus can spread through body fluids, contaminated  items, or be respiratory based. The symptoms of the disease include lesions, headaches, fever,  swelling of the lymph nodes, muscle pain, sore throat, and coughing. Seeing as it is infectious enclosed spaces make it easier  to spread. It has been reported a significant number of cases have been reported in gay men who are very sexually active. The fear is that this will be similar to the failed public health response to AIDS. The origin of these outbreaks remains a mystery. The accidental release from gain of function research has been suggested. Other theories is that animals carrying multiple viruses came into contact too much contact with humans. The World Health Organization still has not confirmed origins of the MPV outbreak. 

New Viruses Found In 15,000 Year Old Tibetan Glacier Ice

 

Viruses can survive in cold weather. Researchers and virologists discovered new viruses previously unknown in a Tibetan glacier ice . The samples were obtained from the Guliya Ice Cap. The discovery could explain the evolution of viruses. The ice is 15,000 years old, which provides a long history of biological information. Genetic codes were uncovered for 33 viruses. Only four were identified  and twenty eight were novel or unknown. Viruses appear to like cold environments according to the data collected. The origin of viruses might have been from plants and the soil not animals or humans. Scientists  used an ultra-clean method ( clean surface decontamination procedure)  to avoid contamination or being infected . The concern is what happens when global temperatures increase. Heat will cause glaciers to melt and could enable viruses to be exposed. A growing concern is over gain of function research and the hazards of manipulating viruses. Microbes have the ability to thrive in extreme environments. The ice samples provide details of the function of viruses over time. What is now confirmed is that climate can impact microbes as well.