Jeremy Kamil is an associate professor at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport
June 10, 2022
It has been 30 months since the first news stories of a pneumonia outbreak in a market in Wuhan, China grew into what would become the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, we are hearing of a new virus in the headlines, monkeypox. And again, we are seeing maps of the globe peppered with ominous red dots. Each day, the dots swell with increasing case numbers, and new dots appear in countries that were previously unblemished, almost as if the globe itself has contracted an ominous rash.
This time, the first reports came out of the UK, and already there are over 1,200 confirmed cases in nearly 30 countries around the world. Understandably, people are worried.
So what is monkeypox? Are we seeing the beginning of another new pandemic? And how dangerous is this virus? If it keeps spreading, how bad could it get? To start, it is worth deciphering some strange and misleading names, and providing a bit of history.
Monkeypox is a poxvirus – unlike, say, the chickenpox virus, which is not actually a poxvirus. But it does share one feature with chickenpox – neither usually circulates in the animals for which they are named. The natural hosts for monkeypox are rodents.
What is concerning is that monkeypox is related to another very deadly poxvirus: smallpox – also known as the variola virus. Smallpox was the very first virus ever to be eradicated by a vaccine, which in this case came in the form of a naturally occurring virus, vaccinia. The vaccinia virus is a cousin of smallpox whose natural hosts were likely some sort of ungulates (hoofed animals, such as horses and cows). Vaccinia wasn’t nearly as dangerous to humans as smallpox, and because of its relatedness to variola, when people were inoculated with vaccinia, the “lessons” their immune systems learned from being infected afforded lifelong immunity to smallpox.
In just the same way, we already know that vaccinia and related smallpox vaccines also provide cross-protection against monkeypox. Therefore, those who have been reading closely will already have noticed important distinctions from the Covid-19 situation, which should help to assuage any incipient panic.
First, we already have effective vaccines against monkeypox (smallpox vaccines). Secondly, unlike Covid-19, the immunity one gets from a smallpox vaccine will protect from monkeypox for life. Fortunately, even though smallpox has been extinct since 1977, governments around the world have long worried that it might be used as a bioweapon. So they have continued to manufacture and stockpile vaccines, and there has been continued investment in antiviral drugs. For example, tecovirimat, an antiviral drug against smallpox that was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2018, is effective against monkeypox.
An outbreak of monkeypox took place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1997. AFP
New dots appear in countries that were previously unblemished, almost as if the globe itself has contracted an ominous rash
Moreover, we also almost certainly do not have to worry about monkeypox variants. Poxviruses are DNA viruses, with large genomes made up of double-stranded DNA, just like our own. DNA viruses mutate much more slowly than RNA viruses, so the risk that new monkeypox variants will rapidly emerge is virtually nil.
How does monkeypox spread? Although monkeypox can theoretically spread by air or by contact, the virus has thus far spread almost entirely among men through sexual contact, which strongly implies that close, physically intimate contact is the main route of transmission.
Monkeypox itself is endemic in west and central Africa, and there have long been sporadic human infections in countries such as Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon. And it is important to remember this is not the first time that the virus has spread internationally. For instance, there was an outbreak in the US in 2003 in which 71 people caught the virus. Comfortingly, that outbreak was later fully contained.
As for the danger factor, although the Central African clade of monkeypox is lethal in about 10 per cent of cases, the so-called“West African clade”, which is the variety driving the current outbreak, is much less dangerous, causing death in about 1 per cent of cases. Fortunately, there have not been any recorded deaths in this outbreak so far.
Given that this outbreak started with just three cases announced by the UK in early May, and one month later there are already well over 1,000 cases globally, it might appear that the situation is spiralling out-of-control. But much of what looks like very “rapid” growth in case numbers reflects improved surveillance. Health professionals around the world are looking for cases and finding them. This outbreak has been going on at least since November 2021, when a case was identified in the US state of Maryland in a traveler returning from Nigeria.
Monkeypox takes much longer than a coronavirus to establish itself in a new host, and people infected with monkeypox cannot spread the infection until at least about 7 days after contracting the virus. This means that public health workers should be able to use a strategy called “ring vaccination” to vaccinate any close contacts of a confirmed case, thereby preventing uncontrolled spread of the virus.
The real concern here is that monkeypox will establish itself in rodent populations outside of its current “enzootic” (endemic) range in Africa. If this happens, then we would expect to continue to see sporadic outbreaks of monkeypox until everyone is vaccinated against smallpox. Because routine vaccination against smallpox was halted in most parts of the world in the 1970s after the disease was eradicated, many more of us are susceptible to monkeypox.
The key takeaway is that the world needs to continue to keep its eyes on this virus and do its best to avoid stigmatising those who come forward and test positive. Only by bringing the virus into the light can we recognise and control it.
Tuan Phan of SimplyFI.org lists five signs you have been mis-sold to:
1. Your pension fund has been placed inside an offshore insurance wrapper with a hefty upfront commission.
2. The money has been transferred into a structured note. These products have high upfront, recurring commission and should never be in a pension account.
3. You have also been sold investment funds with an upfront initial charge of around 5 per cent. ETFs, for example, have no upfront charges.
4. The adviser charges a 1 per cent charge for managing your assets. They are being paid for doing nothing. They have already claimed massive amounts in hidden upfront commission.
5. Total annual management cost for your pension account is 2 per cent or more, including platform, underlying fund and advice charges.
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
Favourite quote: "The world is full of good people, if you cannot find one, be one"
Favourite exercise: The snatch
Favourite colour: Blue
THE 12 BREAKAWAY CLUBS
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area. Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife. Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple. The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”. He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale. Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Crazy Rich Asians
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan
Four stars
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Devesh Mamtani from Century Financial believes the cash-hoarding tendency of each generation is influenced by what stage of the employment cycle they are in. He offers the following insights:
Baby boomers (those born before 1964): Owing to market uncertainty and the need to survive amid competition, many in this generation are looking for options to hoard more cash and increase their overall savings/investments towards risk-free assets.
Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980): Gen X is currently in its prime working years. With their personal and family finances taking a hit, Generation X is looking at multiple options, including taking out short-term loan facilities with competitive interest rates instead of dipping into their savings account.
Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996): This market situation is giving them a valuable lesson about investing early. Many millennials who had previously not saved or invested are looking to start doing so now.
if you go
The flightsFly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
Phishing: Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
Smishing: The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
Vishing: The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
Identity theft: Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
Prize scams: Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
