Mpox or Monkeypox: Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is a rare virus-caused disease. This virus affects rodents like rats and mice and nonhuman primates like monkeys. Yet, it can happen to people.
Mpox is most common in Central and West Africa. Cases are the result of:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors cases reported in countries where mpox is uncommon, such as the United States. The CDC is tracking numerous cases of monkeypox around the world.
What are the signs of monkeypox?
Mpox symptoms can appear 5 to 21 days after exposure. The time between being exposed and developing symptoms is referred to as the incubation period. Mpox symptoms can last 2 to 4 weeks and include the following:
A skin rash appears 1 to 4 days after you develop a fever. The mpox rash frequently begins on the face, hands, or feet before spreading to other body parts. The mpox rash progresses through several stages. Flat spots develop into blisters.
The blisters then fill with pus, scab over, and fall off over 2 to 4 weeks.
You can spread mpox while you are sick. So from the time, your symptoms begin to the time your rash and scabs heal. If you have a new rash or any mpox symptoms, see your doctor right away, even if you don’t know anyone who has mpox.
How is the mpox virus transmitted?
Mpox is caused by the mpox virus. Close contact with an infected animal or person spreads the virus. It can also apply when a person handles materials that have been in contact with someone who has mpox, such as blankets.
The mpox virus spreads from person to person in the following ways:
Mpox spreads from an animal to a human via:
What can we do to avoid the mpox virus?
Take the following precautions to avoid infection with or spread of the mpox virus: