What is Mpox and what symptoms should you look out for

Mpox (monkeypox) is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It can cause painful blisters, swollen lymph nodes, and fever, the DGHS said in a press release today (17 August).

What we know

• Mpox was first identified in monkeys in Denmark in 1958
• WHO said that the disease has already spread to Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda, Sweden and Kenya
• It was detected in Pakistan for the first time on Thursday

Should you be worried?

• The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa a global health emergency, the highest level of alarm under international health law
• A deadlier strain of the virus, clade Ib, is spreading quickly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has reached at least four previously unaffected countries in Africa
• Mpox is a viral disease related to the now-eradicated smallpox virus
• Some outbreaks of clade I mpox have killed up to 10% of people who get sick, although more recent outbreaks have had lower death rates
• The fatality rate for clade II is less than 0.2%
• Infants, people with severely weakened immune systems and pregnant women – are more likely to have more severe infections

What are the symptoms?

Surveillance of mpox is quite incomplete, and there's much more to learn. But there are some ways to identify it.

• fever, headache, chills
• joint pains, backache, muscle aches
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Extreme tiredness
• Onset of rash, 1-5 days after fever

Is there treatment?

Currently, there is no treatment for mpox but some antiviral drugs are being tested.

• The only vaccine is said to be stockpiled by Western countries
• One advice is to 'go back to basics of hygiene
• Avoid contact with those who are displaying symptoms
• See a doctor if symptoms appear