What you need to know
Mpox is a virus that spreads mainly through close physical contact.
Symptoms include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
Most people have mild illness, but young children, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems can get very sick.
No specific treatment exists, but symptoms can be managed.
People with Mpox should isolate for about 3 weeks to avoid spreading it.
Condoms do not prevent Mpox.Protect yourself by avoiding close contact with anyone who has symptoms and not sharing towels, clothes, or bedding.
A smallpox vaccine can protect against Mpox, two doses one month apart.
What is Mpox?
It is a disease caused by a virus.
An infected person can transmit the disease to another person.
Monkeys and other animals can be infected but the current epidemic is due to human-to-human transmission
Today, monkeypox has been found all over the world.
The transmission is by close contact:
-
Skin contact
-
Contaminated materials such as bedding or clothing, or towels
-
Prolonged face-to-face contact
How to recognize Mpox?
People infected have fever, a rash for several weeks in many parts of the body, swollen lymph nodes.
It is most often not dangerous, and most people just develop mild symptoms.
However, pregnant women, newborns, children, and people with immune deficiencies (HIV) infection are at risk of serious complications, and even death.
To make the diagnosis, you need a PCR test on a sample of the lesions.
There is no specific treatment available
People infected can receive symptomatic treatment
Quarantine is recommended during the infection (about 3 weeks)
Isolation for contact cases but Thailand Health Authorities may impose a quarantine to contacts.
How can you prevent being infected?
First, using a condom does not prevent transmission.
You can prevent infection if you:
-
Avoid close contact with a person who presents any symptoms
-
Avoid sharing clothes, towels, linens with anybody.
-
Avoid having multiple partners and close contacts with strangers (sauna)
Is there a vaccine?
Yes, the vaccine against smallpox also prevents Mpox.
If you were born in Thailand before 1980, maybe you received the smallpox vaccine. If you have a scar showing that you were vaccinated, you may need only one smallpox vaccine booster.
Otherwise, you need two injections, one month apart.