Everything You Need To Know About Mpox | Symptoms And Treatment

You may have heard the term Mpox in the news lately and if you haven't, there are high chances that you might in the coming days. Declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization, Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, is a viral disease that was first seen in a 9-month-old in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970. After the eradication of smallpox in the 1980s, Mpox spread to other parts of Africa, eventually resulting in a global outbreak in 2022-2023. Mpox cases are again on the rise, but, this time it is more concerning owing to the fact that the new strain of the virus is much deadlier, with a 3 percent higher death rate as compared to other known strains. Read for more

What Is Monkeypox And Why Is It Called So?

The Mpox virus is closely related to the smallpox virus. It is a rare viral disease which is called ‘monkeypox’ because researchers first detected it in laboratory monkeys in 1958 which were kept for research. The first confirmed human case was found in the year 1970 when the virus was isolated from a child suspected of having smallpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Since the first reported human case, it has been reported in several other central and western African countries.

Key Facts About Mpox

• Mpox is a known virus rather than a new one. 

• Mpox is caused by a Mpox virus which is a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae.

• Mpox virus is a DNA virus so it does not mutate as rapidly as Covid or flu.

• Mpox is usually a self-limited disease with symptoms lasting from  2 to 4 weeks.

• It is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person’s blood, cutaneous or mucosal lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets, or contaminated material such as their clothes or bedding.

• In Africa, evidence of the Mpox virus has been found in many animals including rope squirrels, tree squirrels, Gambian pouched rats, dormice, different species of monkeys, and others.

• Consumption of inadequately cooked meat and other animal products of infected animals could also be a possible risk factor.

• Transmission of the virus can also occur via the placenta from mother to fetus leading to congenital Mpox. 

• The newborn can also catch the infection from the mother during and after birth due to close contact.

• Cases outside of Africa have been associated with international travel or imported animals, including in the U.S. and elsewhere.

• The first reported cases of Mpox in the U.S. was in 2003. It was reported from an outbreak in Texas linked to a shipment of animals from Ghana.

• Fortunately, it is less deadly. Compared to smallpox’s 30% mortality, between 1% and 3% of patients die from Mpox.

• Mpox is also suspected to be spreading during sexual activities with most cases having lesions on their genitals and the surrounding area.

• Many of those affected are gay and bisexual young men.

Mpox Symptoms 

The symptoms of Mpox are similar to but milder than the symptoms of smallpox in humans. The symptoms include:

• Fever

• Headache

• Muscle aches

• Backache

• Swollen lymph nodes

• A general feeling of discomfort

• Chills 

• Exhaustion

• Severe rash

• Profound weakness

The incubation period which is the time from infection to appearance of symptoms for Mpox is usually 5-21 days. The illness typically lasts for 2-4 weeks. After the appearance of fever, i.e. within 1 to 3 days or sometimes longer, the infected person develops a rash, beginning on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body.

In contrast, reported symptoms in people who get the smallpox or Mpox vaccine include:

• Mild fever

• Tiredness

• Swollen glands

• Redness

• Itching at the site of injection

Treatment Of Mpox

There is no current proven safe treatment for Mpox virus infection. It mainly requires focusing on transmission prevention. It is usually a self-limited disease that clears itself between 14 to 21 days and cases are usually mild. However, it may be severe in some individuals including children, pregnant women, or persons with immunosuppression due to other health conditions. For controlling the outbreak, smallpox vaccines, antivirals and vaccinia immune globulin (VIG) can be used.