Monkeypox

Mpox Latest News

The scientific community is divided on whether mpox should be given the label of a sexually transmitted disease (STD), with targeted public health interventions to contain it.

About Mpox

• Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a zoonotic viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus.
• Mpox is characterized by rash or skin lesions that are usually concentrated on the face, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet.
• The first human case of mpox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

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Subtypes of Mpox

• Clade I: It is endemic to Central Africa. It tends to cause more serious illness than clade II. Recent outbreaks of clade I have been less deadly. 
• Clade II: It is endemic to East Africa. There’s been a global outbreak of clade II mpox since 2022. It’s less likely to be fatal than clade I. 

Mpox Transmission

• Mpox is transmitted to people by close contact with infected animals or people or by touching virus-contaminated materials. 
• It enters the body through (often invisible) injuries or wounds in the skin, or the mucous membranes. 
• Mpox can be passed from one person to another during sexual contact. 
• During pregnancy, the virus may be passed to the fetus, or to the newborn during or after birth.

Mpox Symptoms

• Common symptoms of mpox are a skin rash or mucosal lesions, which can last 2–4 weeks, accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes. 
• Mpox symptoms often resolve on their own without the need for treatment.

Mpox Treatment

• There are no specific treatments for monkeypox virus infection. 
• Treatment for most people with mpox is to relieve symptoms.

Source: TH