As UK Monkeypox cases rise to 71 and health officials warn of an endemic - how is the virus different from a pandemic?

There have been 14 new cases identified in England on Tuesday, which raises the confirmed total to 71, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.

The World Health Organisation has recorded more than 90 cases of monkeypox in a dozen countries. Dr Heyman has described the unprecedented outbreak in developed countries as “a random event”.

New Monkeypox guidance has also been issued for close contacts including three weeks of self-isolation in light of the outbreak.

News Shopper: Monkeypox blisters. Credit: PAMonkeypox blisters. Credit: PA

With terms like endemic and pandemic being thrown around - especially after the trials of the last two years - here are both terms explained. 

What is an endemic?

A disease outbreak is seen as 'endemic' when it is consistently present but limited to a particular region, according to Columbia University.

Malaria, for instance, is considered an endemic in certain countries and areas.

Being consistently present with predictable rates is what makes it an endemic.

What is a pandemic?

Meanwhile, the WHO only declares a pandemic when the growth of the disease is exponential.

The number of cases is seen to grow more each day, as was the case with Covid-19.

When a pandemic is declared, it has nothing to do with "virology, population immunity, or disease severity," Columbia University explains.

Instead, it means the said virus is covering a wide area that may affect several countries and populations.

Endemic vs Pandemic vs Epidemic

Whether the WHO declares an epidemic, endemic or pandemic is dependent on how much the virus has spread rather than its severity.

As we know all too well, a pandemic crosses international boundaries rather than regions like epidemics.

Epidemics can affect a large number of people within a region but are generally contained.

However, they can progress into a pandemic status which can lead to larger-scale disruption.

What is monkeypox and why is it called that?

Monkeypox is a rare infection that spreads mainly among wild animals in parts of west or central Africa.

The disease was first discovered in monkeys kept for research in 1958 which is where it gets its name.

The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the risk of catching it in the UK is generally very low.

It is caused by the Monkeypox virus which comes from a subset of the Poxviridae family of viruses known as Orthopoxvirus.

This virus family also includes smallpox, vaccinia and cowpox viruses.

News Shopper: St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London. Credit: PASt Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London. Credit: PA

Monkeypox symptoms

The symptoms of monkeypox are also fairly similar to but milder than Smallpox symptoms. 

Since they are closely related, the smallpox vaccine can provide protection against infection from both viruses.

The main difference between their symptoms is that monkeypox causes lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy) while smallpox does not.

These are the symptoms you should be aware of that are related to Monkeypox, according to Public Health England.

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Aching muscles
  • Backache
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Chills
  • Exhaustion

Infected people usually start to show symptoms between five and 21 days after infection.

The UKHSA has advised that the initial symptoms include "fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion."

The government added that a rash can develop which often begins on the face and can then spread to other parts of the body.

The rash can change and go through different stages before it finally forms a scab and falls off.

READ MORE: Monkeypox outbreak: differences between the virus and its Smallpox "cousin"

READ MORE: Monkeypox virus infection rise ‘sparked by sex at raves in Spain and Belgium’

How serious is Monkeypox and how does it spread?

The virus outbreak of Monkeypox has raised concerns that we may have a second Covid on our hands but Dr Nick Phin, director of public health science and medical director at Public Health Scotland has assured that this is not the case.

Dr Phin confirmed that the virus was “not Covid two” and added: “I don’t think this is Covid two, in fact, I’m sure this is not Covid two.

“There are a number of striking differences between this and Covid. We’ve got a longer incubation period. We’ve got an effective vaccine and we’ve got effective medication. There is not what we understand to be an asymptomatic phase so in other words, if you’ve got symptoms, that’s when you’re infectious.”

It is important to note that most patients recover within a few weeks of contracting the disease and do not need treatment.

However, it can cause severe illness in some people.

You can catch monkeypox from an infected animal if you've been bitten or if "you touch its blood, body fluids, spots, blisters or scabs", according to the NHS website.

The NHS also says that you can catch monkeypox by eating meat from an infected animal that has not been cooked thoroughly.

It is also possible to catch it by touching other products from infected animals, including animal skin and fur.

It's rare to get monkeypox from another person who has the infection because it does not spread easily between people.

That being said, the NHS says that it can be spread through the following methods:

  • touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with the monkeypox rash
  • touching monkeypox skin blisters or scabs
  • the coughs or sneezes of a person with the monkeypox rash
  • direct contact during sex

For more advice about monkeypox, visit the NHS website.