Mpox

Mpox (previously known as Monkey pox) is a condition that is caused by infection with mpox virus.

It is usually a mild self-limiting illness, and most people recover within a few weeks.

The infection can be passed on through close contact, including sex with someone with the infection or contact with clothing or linens used by a person who has mpox.

Read about the vaccination programme

• Symptoms
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches
  • Backache
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Chills and exhaustion

  A rash can develop, often first appearing in the area that has been most exposed to the infection, and then spreads to other parts of the body including the face, genitals and rectal area. The rash changes and goes through different stages. It can look like chickenpox or syphilis, before finally forming a scab which later falls off.

  An individual is infectious until all the scabs have fallen off and there is intact skin underneath.

  Risks of exposure include:

  1. Exposure to a confirmed or probable case in the 21 days before symptom onset
  2. History of travel to an area where monkeypox is endemic, such as:

  • Countries of Central and West Africa including Benin
  • Cameroon
  • The Central African Republic
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Gabon
  • Cote d’Ivoire
  • Liberia, Nigeria
  • The Republic of the Congo
  • Sierra Leone
  • South Sudan
  • Area with a current outbreak in the 21 days before symptom onset
  • Gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men (GBMSM)
• Testing

  If you think you have been at risk of exposure to mpox and have unusual rashes or lesions on any part of your body, especially your genitalia, you should contact your local GUM clinic without delay. Phone first ahead of a visit to a healthcare facility.

  Most recent cases in England and Europe have been in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, so if this applies to you, be alert to the symptoms and seek help if concerned.

  Getting tested | Sexual Health NI (hscni.net)

• Treatment

  Mpox is usually mild, and most people recover within a few weeks without treatment.

  But if your symptoms are more severe and you become unwell, you may need treatment in hospital.

  The risk of needing treatment in hospital is higher for:

  • Older people
  • Young children
  • People with a condition
  • People who are taking a medicine that affects their immune system

  Because the infection can be passed on through close contact, it’s important to isolate yourself if you’re diagnosed with it.