Monkeypox: Everything you need to know
Monkeypox is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus that can be transmitted from person to person primarily through close physical contact.
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On August 14, the World Health Organization declared Mpox, also known as monkeypox, a global health emergency for the second time in three years.
The declaration comes in response to an outbreak in 13 African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Central African Republic and others.
The last time there was a global emergency due to MPOX was just two years ago in 2022. According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 17,000 cases have been reported across Africa in 2024.
Here’s everything you need to know about the outbreak and the virus.
How is monkeypox transmitted?
There are two types of Mpox: Clade I and Clade II. Clade I causes more severe illness and death and is most common in Central Africa. Clade II was the cause of the global outbreak in 2022. Infections are less severe and are most common in West Africa.
Both strains can spread through direct contact with infected wildlife, a person with MPOX, or contaminated materials. Direct contact can also occur through prolonged face-to-face interactions such as talking or breathing.
Is there monkeypox in the United States?
The World Health Organization declared the Mpox outbreak a global health emergency. This came against the backdrop of the ongoing outbreak in Africa.
Despite the outbreak in Africa, no cases of Clade I had been reported in the United States until last week. Federal officials have said the risk of a large-scale outbreak in the United States is low. A few cases of Clade II Mpox are reported in the United States each week.
The CDC has issued a health alert and travel advisory for clade Impox in Central Africa and neighboring countries. It recommends that providers and health authorities monitor for signs and ask patients about recent travel to affected areas.
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?
According to the CDC, people infected with Mpox typically get a rash that can appear on the hands, feet, chest, face, mouth, or genitals. During the incubation period of 3 to 17 days, a person has no symptoms and may feel fine.
Other symptoms of MPOX may include:
- Fever
- chills
- Swollen lymph nodes
- exhaustion
- Muscle pain and back pain
- Headache
- Respiratory problems such as sore throat, stuffy nose or cough
Symptoms usually appear within 21 days of exposure to the virus. If you have flu-like symptoms, a rash is likely to develop within four days.
How do you test for monkeypox?
A test is only recommended if you have a rash that is compatible with Mpox. The test is performed by a doctor.
To test for the virus, a doctor will take a sample. This is done by taking swabs from the lesions of the rash. The samples are sent to a laboratory and the results are available within a few days.
How is monkeypox treated?
There is currently no treatment for Mpox. However, there is a vaccine that can prevent infection with the disease. Once both doses of the vaccine have been administered, the person no longer needs to worry about becoming infected.
Although there is no treatment yet, doctors are testing whether the smallpox drug TPOXX could also have an effect on smallpox viruses, since the viruses are similar in nature.
