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Posted by on August 25, 2024

Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. While the virus was initially identified in monkeys, it can infect humans as well:

  1. Transmission: The virus spreads through close contact with an infected person or animal, or through contaminated materials. Transmission can occur via respiratory droplets, direct contact with skin lesions, body fluids, and contaminated clothing or bedding.
  2. Symptoms: The illness typically begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, and general malaise. A few days after the onset of fever, a rash can develop, often starting on the face and spreading to other parts of the body. The rash progresses through several stages, starting as flat lesions, then raised bumps, fluid-filled blisters, and finally, scabs that fall off.
  3. Diagnosis: Diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms, particularly the characteristic rash, and can be confirmed through laboratory testing, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect viral DNA.
  4. Treatment: There is no specific treatment for mpox, but the symptoms are generally mild and self-limiting. Supportive care, including fluids and pain management, is usually sufficient. However, in severe cases or in immunocompromised individuals, antiviral treatments like tecovirimat may be used.
  5. Prevention: Preventive measures include avoiding contact with animals that could carry the virus (especially in areas where mpox is endemic), practicing good hygiene, and isolating infected individuals. A vaccine developed for smallpox (Jynneos or Imvamune) has been approved for use against mpox in some cases.
  6. Epidemiology: While mpox is endemic in certain regions of Central and West Africa, there have been outbreaks in other parts of the world, leading to increased awareness and surveillance.