Mpox—a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus that results in fever and a blistery rash—has been in the news lately. Normally found in parts of Africa, an increasing number of mpox cases have been confirmed in Europe and the United States. In this Q&A, Bernard Camins, MD, Medical Director for Infection Prevention at the Mount Sinai Health System, says most people shouldn’t be too worried about mpox, but calls for a bit of vigilance by physicians and the public. “It’s good to just inform people, even though the likelihood of the average person living in New York being exposed to someone with mpox is low,” Dr. Camins says.
What is mpox?
The monkeypox virus is a virus that is in the same family as smallpox and cowpox. As you probably know, smallpox was eradicated years ago. But we do have to worry about mpox every now and then.
Should I be concerned about mpox?
Most of us should not really worry about getting exposed to or getting mpox. The current situation is that some people who have traveled to countries in Europe or Africa have been exposed to people with mpox, and potentially they could be at risk for also having mpox. These returning travelers have exposed other people within their social circles, so there are reports of people contracting mpox who have not left the United States. You should only worry about mpox if you know someone who has symptoms of mpox or who has been diagnosed with mpox.
What are the symptoms of mpox?
The hallmark of mpox is a rash, but before the rash appears, people can have a fever and a feeling of malaise or tiredness. Another hallmark is “diffuse lymphadenopathy” or enlarged lymph nodes. So if you do have fever and enlarged lymph nodes, and you were exposed to someone suspected of having mpox or someone who has been diagnosed with mpox, then you need to seek medical care.
What should doctors do if they see a patient with mpox symptoms?
If a doctor suspects a patient has mpox, even before the rash appears, we instruct them to isolate the person in a private room. The medical team will then wear personal protective equipment that includes an N95 respirator, gowns, and gloves, and then they will do an extensive interview. We need to know the details of the patient’s interactions with people who may have mpox. One of the key things that decides if someone needs to be tested is whether they have an epidemiological link to someone with mpox—meaning that either they traveled abroad and were exposed to someone with mpox or that they are at high risk for having mpox. While mpox is not usually considered a sexually transmitted infection, the latest outbreak has been observed among sexual partners.
Why are we talking about mpox now?
While mpox is a viral infection that is rare, a large outbreak has occurred in the United States before, in 2003. Mpox is endemic in Africa, meaning it is normally found there, but because we have a lot of people traveling around the world, it is spreading in countries where it is not endemic.
You can get more information about mpox and the latest updates from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.