Monkeypox and HIV: Same but Different?
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Though HIV continues to be a plague 40 years on, for several reasons monkeypox is unlikely to become as significant. HIV establishes a chronic infection with high mortality if untreated, and a practical preventive approach through vaccination has been elusive. Orthopox, on the other hand, is an acute infection with very low mortality. The transmissibility appears nowhere near SARS-CoV-2 and differs from HIV because it has a fairly short infectivity duration. Many infected with monkeypox acquired infection after participation in multiple sexual encounters. An early estimate of the 2022 outbreak places the R0 number at 1.29, with a higher rate in the United States, at 1.55. These numbers are concerning because they're greater than 1, but if they hold, they will still be nowhere near those of SARS-CoV-2 or HIV. For these reasons, the World Health Organization suggested limiting the number of sexual partners in the current environment.
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@satyajit A vaccine that probably will be effective is currently available, even if in short supply. Antiviral medications, like tecovirimat, are available for people with severe infections, such as proctitis, or for those who are immunosuppressed. However, we lack clear-cut evidence that these drugs are helpful in most patients.