What You Need to Know About the Mpox Virus

Last week, the World Health Organization labeled mpox, also known as monkeypox, a public health emergency. The decision came after a number of African countries have seen a surge in positive cases over the last few weeks.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time that monkeypox has been in the news in recent years, as there was a significant increase in cases as recently as 2022 that received international attention. The 2022 mpox public health emergency saw the virus spread across the world, leading to an uptick in global cases.

While global health emergencies have also been important, it’s safe to say that most people are even more attuned to what’s going on in the world of widespread viral outbreaks since the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the way that we live.

While the mpox outbreak has yet to reach those levels, many people are wondering if the world could be looking at another epidemic or pandemic.

Today, learn more about the mpox virus, its history, its symptoms, and what it means for you. Even if you’re not traveling internationally, it’s a good idea to know about viruses that are spreading at such a high rate of speed.

What is Mpox?

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been dealing with mpox (or monkeypox) for more than 50 years. In fact, the DRC’s government has categorized mpox as an epidemic for more than five decades now.

Mpox was initially discovered in 1958, nearly 70 years ago, in a group of monkeys that were being studied in a laboratory setting. There were no human cases until a nine-month-old infant in the Democratic Republic of Congo started showing symptoms of the disease.

While the disease was initially observed in monkeys, scientists report that it’s primarily transferred through rodents who are in the wild.

This viral infection is typically classified in one of two categories known as clade I and clade II. The World Health Organization made the decision to rename monkeypox to mpox in 2022 in an effort to curtail some of the racist and stigmatizing language that was being used online to discuss the disease.

WHO leadership announced that the two terms, monkeypox and mpox, would be used interchangeably for one year, until the first name of the virus could be phased out completely.

What Are the Symptoms of Mpox?

Mpox symptoms vary considerably from one case to the next, and they have changed significantly over the years. In a lot of ways, mpox resembles smallpox, a virus that was eradicated decades ago in most countries.

Some people who test positive for mpox report an itchy rash that lasts anywhere from two to four weeks.

This rash can come before or after several other symptoms which include fever (a natural response to any virus), headache, swollen lymph nodes (another common physiological response to viruses), back pain, joint pain, muscle pain, and fatigue.

On the surface, these symptoms can look like those that point to a number of other viruses, including the rash.

However, most people who develop a rash with their mpox deal with a rash that’s primarily made of blisters or sores. This rash usually forms on the face, palms, feet, groin, anal region, or around the genitalia.

In mild cases, people may only have one or two sores. In more severe cases of mpox, patients may have thousands of sores that form all over their bodies. Additionally, some patients who report more severe cases of mpox may develop proctitis, which is inflammation in the rectum.

Typically, symptoms go away in a few weeks if the patient receives some supportive care. In most cases, treating the fever, rash, and body pain is enough to get the patient through the worst parts of the virus.

Unfortunately, as is the case with most viruses, some people groups are prone to experience more severe symptoms and even death. The most at-risk groups include the elderly, infants, children, pregnant women, and people with immunodeficiencies.

In these severe instances, mpox patients deal with larger, more widespread blisters and sores. They often form secondary infections that affect the blood, lungs, and skin. Some patients have been found to develop encephalitis, which is an infection of the brain.

One of the most complicated aspects of tracking the spread of mpox is the lack of reliable data provided by some small African nations.

Since many of these countries are still divided up into villages, data isn’t as readily available as it is in more developed areas of the world. With this in mind, the WHO reports that anywhere between 0.1% and 10% of mpox patients have died.

However, that number may be much higher, as there’s no way to know what sort of illnesses are being dealt with by some unreached people groups.

How Does Mpox Spread?

Mpox can spread in three directions. It can from person to person, from animal to person, or even from a person to an animal. This is also largely responsible for the severity of the disease on a global scale, as viruses that cross between species are much easier to transmit, and much harder to contain.

Person-to-person contaminations usually happen when someone without the virus comes into close contact with someone who has it. This includes skin-to-skin contact as well as mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-skin contact according to the WHO.

The organization also reports that most of the 2022 outbreak was attributed to sexual contact between people who had the disease and those who did not.

Additionally, it has been proven that pregnant women with the disease can spread it to their unborn children. People with the virus are considered contagious until their lesions are scabbed over.

The virus transmits from animals to humans through physical contact. Monkeys and squirrels seem to be the primary carriers of the virus and can transmit it to humans through bites or scratches. Additionally, humans who eat animals that carry the virus have tested positive, even if the meat is cooked thoroughly.

Transmitting the virus from people to animals is a bit more of a mystery. Some cases have been found in domesticated dogs, but the WHO is conducting more studies to determine if the dogs caught the virus after being petted by their owners who had the virus, or if they came into contact with another animal that had the disease.

Since so much is still unknown when it comes to this transmission method, the WHO still considers it a possibility.

How Can I Protect Myself Against Mpox?

Knowledge is power when it comes to protecting yourself against any type of disease, including mpox. Right now, most of the outbreak seems to be limited to Africa, which makes it unlikely for anyone to test positive unless they have recently traveled to the region.

However, knowing the signs and symptoms can help you protect yourself and your loved ones from the disease.

If you are exhibiting symptoms of mpox, isolate yourself from others and seek medical help as quickly as possible. A healthcare professional can administer an mpox test, and if that test is positive, you need to stay isolated until the boils “crust over” according to the World Health Organization.

Stay Informed About Mpox

During the COVID-19 pandemic, state and federal officials relayed information to the public at an almost constant rate.

Many governors held daily press conferences so their constituents would know about the latest developments. Since the mpox virus has yet to spread to the United States, it’s unlikely that you’ll find much media coverage.

However, the WHO’s decision to declare a public health emergency means that you can monitor their website for more news. Staying informed is the most effective way to protect yourself and the people you love the most.