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What is Mpox?

Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the mpox virus. The disease is spread by skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. Mpox can also spread by touching or having sex with someone who is infected, or touching items used by someone with mpox including clothes, towels, bedsheets, or cutlery.

 

In settings where the mpox virus is present among some wild animals, it can also be transmitted from infected animals to people who have contact with them.

Symptoms of mpox disease are generally mild, and it is rarely fatal. Without treatment, mpox usually goes away in 2 to 4 weeks with more than 99% of people who get mpox surviving.

Common symptoms of mpox are:

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches and backache
  • Swollen lymph nodes (in the groin and armpits)
  • Fatigue
  • Chills
  • A rash that can look like pimples or blisters on the body (including genitals, or anus) and inside the mouth.

Severe disease due to mpox may include larger, more widespread lesions (especially in the mouth, eyes and genitals), secondary bacterial infections of the skin or blood, and lung infections. Complications can include severe bacterial infection from skin lesions, mpox affecting the brain (encephalitis), heart (myocarditis) or lungs (pneumonia), and eye problems.

Persons at higher risk of getting mpox are:

  • Individuals in close contact with someone who has mpox.
  • People who handle contaminated items, including, clothing, bedding, and towels used by someone with mpox.
  • Healthcare workers caring for patients with mpox, especially those not using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) or following infection control protocols.
  • Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men:
    • Those engaging in sexual activity or close contact with someone who is infectious
    • Individuals with multiple or new sexual partners

 

Most people with mpox get better without having serious illness. Groups that have a higher risk of serious mpox illness are:

  • People who have a seriously weakened immune system, including people living with HIV that is not well controlled are at higher risk of illness and death due to complications from mpox.
  • Children younger than age 1.
  • People who have had eczema.
  • Pregnant women.
  • Avoid sexual situations that may expose you to mpox.
  • Avoid contact with animals suspected of carrying mpox and their cages and bedding.
  • Avoid contact with bedding, towels, and other materials, such as needles, that may be contaminated with mpox.
  • Thoroughly cook foods that contain animal meat or parts.
  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
  • Avoid contact with people who may be infected with mpox.
  • Practice safe sex, including the use of condoms and dental dams, and reducing skin-to-skin contact.
  • Wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose when around others.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
  • Use gloves, masks, and face shields when caring for people infected with mpox.

Yes. There are vaccines recommended by WHO for use against mpox.

 

At present, WHO recommends use of MVA-BN or LC16 vaccines, or the ACAM2000 vaccine when the others are not available. Meanwhile, these vaccines are yet to be authorized by the FDA.

 

Only people who are at risk (for example, someone who has been a close contact of someone who has mpox, or someone who belongs to a group at high risk of exposure to mpox) should be considered for vaccination.

 

Mass vaccination is not currently recommended. Mpox vaccines provide a level of protection against infection and severe disease. After you have been vaccinated, continue to take care to avoid catching and spreading mpox. This is because it takes several weeks to develop immunity after being vaccinated and because a few people may not respond to vaccination. For those who acquire mpox after vaccination, the vaccine still protects against severe disease and hospitalization.

There are no treatments specifically for mpox virus infections. However, because of genetic similarities in the viruses, antiviral drugs used to treat smallpox may be used to treat mpox infections.

  1. There are two broad clades of the virus: clade I and II. Clade II was behind the global mpox outbreak that began in 2022.

    The current understanding is that clade I leads to more severe disease and death than clade II in the populations where it is endemic. However, differences in the features of past outbreaks such as population groups affected make it hard to draw a firm conclusion. 

    A new offshoot of clade I virus, called clade Ib, was first reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2023, and has been spreading through sex and other types of close contact. Studies are underway to understand the properties of this new strain.

  1. The rapid spread of mpox in parts of Africa has been declared public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization in August 2024.

     

    Evolution of the virus into different clades is also of concern because it is unknown at the moment whether the new clades are more continuous.

     

    As of 8th October 2024, Ghana recorded two new infections, with more suspected cases yet to be confirmed.

  1. World health Organization. August 2024. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/mpox. [Accessed Oct. 6, 20204]
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. August 2024. Available from: https://mpoxvaccine.cdc.gov/faq-page. [Accessed Oct. 6, 20204]
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