In response to the growing threat of Mpox, experts are advocating for a comprehensive strategy to prevent its spread in India. This includes public awareness campaigns, vaccination efforts, and bolstering healthcare infrastructure to handle a potential outbreak.
About M-pox
Mpox is a viral infection with a rash that may be painful. It is usually self-limited, meaning most people recover on their own after a few weeks. However, in some situations, people may become very sick and death may occur.
Mpox virus can spread in three ways:
- from person to person
- through direct contact with contaminated objects
- from infected animals to humans
Person to person
Mpox can spread from person to person through contact with an infected person’s:
- lesions or scabs that may be found on the skin or mucosal surfaces (such as eyes, mouth, throat, genitalia, and rectum). These lesions may resemble chickenpox.
- blood or body fluids
- contaminated clothing or linens, such as bedding and towels, or by sharing personal objects used by an infected person (such as razors, utensils, needles, sex toys, toothbrushes)
- respiratory droplets (for example, from coughs and sneezes)
- While respiratory droplets may transmit the Mpox virus, this is likely limited.
Through direct contact with contaminated objects
The risk of transmission increases when coming into close contact with someone who is infected, such as:
- during sexual contact (including oral and non-penetrative sexual contact)
- when providing care
- when living in the same household
- An infected pregnant person may also pass on the virus to their developing fetus.
The majority of recent cases have spread from person to person, including through sexual contact and within healthcare settings.
Having multiple sexual partners may increase your overall risk of infection.
Animal to human
Mpox can spread from an infected animal to a human through direct contact. Humans may also become infected if they:
- prepare or eat undercooked meat of infected animals
- come into contact with an infected animal’s body fluids
- In the wild, African rodents are thought to be the main carriers of the virus, however, other carriers include primates, such as monkeys.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Mpox usually develop 7 to 10 days after being exposed but can begin 3 to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms can include:
- onset of a rash or lesions
- fever
- exhaustion
- swelling of the lymph nodes
- headache
- muscle pain
- joint pain
- chills
- back pain
A rash may be the only presenting symptom. The rash is similar in appearance to chickenpox or sexually transmitted infections (such as herpes or gonorrhea). It can be painful and could affect any part of the body, such as the mouth, genitals, perianal area, face, arms and legs, feet, and hands. The rash usually lasts between 14 and 28 days and changes through different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off.
Symptoms of Mpox typically last from 2 to 4 weeks. Treatment is mainly supportive.
Travel Tips for Mpox
Generally, there is a low risk of becoming infected with Mpox during travel. The risk is greater if you have close personal contact, including during sex, with a person who has the infection and who has symptoms.
If you are traveling to Central or West Africa you should:
- avoid close contact with monkeys and rodents (for example rats, mice, squirrels), including their blood and other parts, and avoid eating undercooked meat from these animals
- wear protective clothing, including gloves, if you are involved in the slaughter of, or care and/or treatment of animals (e.g. veterinary work, agriculture, etc)
- practice careful hand hygiene if visiting or caring for ill friends and relatives
If you plan to be sexually active during travel to any destination, you should:
- always practice safe sex
- avoid close physical contact, including sexual contact, with someone who is unwell and may have Mpox
You should seek medical advice during, and for 21 days after traveling if you develop symptoms of Mpox and:
- you have returned from Central or West Africa
- also, make sure you are checked for malaria if returning from these countries as the symptoms might appear similar or
you have had close contact with someone who may have Mpox.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for mpox and it usually gets better by itself. Medicines that help with pain, fever, and discomfort from the rash can be taken. In some cases, if a person becomes more seriously unwell, they may require treatment in hospital.
People with Mpox should stay at home, isolate, and avoid close contact with others to ensure they can’t pass on the infection.
Ref:
https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/disease-prevention-advice/mpox-monkeypox