The second case of Mpox has been reported in the country. There has been a stir in the country since this case came to light. So far, two cases of this infection have been reported in the country, one of which was found in Delhi and the other in Kerala. This infection has been a cause of trouble all over the world for a long time, due to which the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared it a global health emergency. At the same time, concerns have increased after its cases were reported in India.

Ampox, which was earlier also known as monkeypox , is a rapidly spreading infection. It is very similar to smallpox. This is the reason why many people are unable to differentiate between ampox and smallpox. In such a situation, Muzammil Sultan Koka, Senior Registrar, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Maringo Asia Hospital, Gurugram, explains the difference between smallpox and ampox-

What is Mpox?

The infection is caused by the ampoxvirus, a virus belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus . It was earlier called monkeypox. The Variola virus that causes smallpox is closely related to the ampoxvirus. Hence the similarities between the two. The primary host of ampox is an animal, especially a scorpion.

Rodents include rodents and primates. However, people can also catch the disease through contact with sick animals, their body fluids, or contaminated objects.

Symptoms of Ampox

After being affected by Monkeypox, the infected person usually recovers on his own. This infection lasts only for two to four weeks, but the disease can take a serious form in small children, pregnant women and people with weak immunity. Although this disease is not as serious as smallpox, it can spread by coming in contact with contaminated things, respiratory droplets and wounds. Talking about its symptoms (Monkeypox Virus Symptoms), the symptoms of Monkeypox are as follows-

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• swollen lymph nodes
• Rash that usually begins on the face and spreads to other parts of the body.
• The rash progresses from macules to blisters, pustules, and finally scabs.
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What is smallpox?

Smallpox is caused by the Variola virus. This disease is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases. However, smallpox is not spread by any animal and hence it is not very difficult to eradicate or control it.

Symptoms of Smallpox

Talking about the symptoms of smallpox, the patient starts getting rashes in this disease, which start on the face and spread to other parts of the body. These rashes develop rapidly and eventually burst after getting filled with pus. Apart from this, a person suffering from smallpox may also have high temperature, fatigue and painful headache.

Smallpox is a highly contagious disease. More than 30% of people infected with it die. This happens often, especially in more severe cases. At the same time, those who survive the disease often have to deal with serious wounds and in rare cases the victim may even lose his eyesight.