Health & Wellbeing : Monkeypox Facts

MPXMONKEYPOX The facts about HIGHER RISK GROUPSTHE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION TOOK THE UNPRECEDENTED STEP AND DECLARED THE MONKEYPOX OUTBREAK A “PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN”. Monkeypox can affect anyone. But men who have sex with men are at higher risk. 98% of cases so far are among men who have sex with men. This outbreak So far there have been 45 cases in Australia. The good news is is seeing cases spread via close, prolonged contact monkeypox doesn’t spread as easily as the coronavirus, with from sexual activity. Many from this group want to take experts saying it can be kept under control if we are cautious. proactive actions to keep safe and help their community.

Related to smallpox, it was first found in humans in the 1970s. Endemic to Africa, in the past monkeypox has been transmitted through contact with infected animals, including rodents, monkeys and other primates. But in this outbreak human-to-human transmission is happening for the first time.

There has been some misinformation about monkeypox, so it’s important to note it is not a ‘gay men’s disease’, nor is it a ‘sexually transmitted infection’. Monkeypox spreads through skin-to-skin contact between any two or more people.

Over 23,000 cases have been reported since May 2022 in 80 countries, and there have been seven deaths. Most cases in Australia have been among returned travellers. • Maintain contact details of sexual partners in case of the need to follow up if you become infected. • Avoiding sex if you have a rash until you get tested. • Considering avoiding skin-to-skin contact during large gatherings. • If diagnosed with monkeypox, avoiding close physical contact, including sexual contact, with other people for the duration of the illness. • Use condoms.

Health professionals say condoms may help lower the risk of spread if the lesions are confined to the genital and/or anal region, but they’re likely not enough to prevent transmission on their own.

Transmission requires close contact with an infected person. Monkeypox can be transmitted via respiratory droplets and direct contact with body fluids or the presenting rash, often through skin-on-skin contact or indirect contact such as through contaminated clothing or bedding.

Transmission may occur from people without symptoms.

Symptoms are similar to smallpox, though less severe, and begin 5-21 days after exposure. They can include:

• Fever, headache, aches and fatigue. • Sweats and chills, cough and sore throat. • A body rash that usually looks like blisters, that go through several stages before eventually falling off. Symptoms last between two and four weeks, and the disease usually resolves independently. Most adults with a healthy immune system won’t have severe illness and won’t experience long-term harmful effects. There’s no specific treatment for monkeypox yet. People with the infection are given supportive treatments and light dressings for the rash. People with the infection should isolate immediately for the duration of the illness — usually two to four weeks until any rash heals. Australia has secured supplies of smallpox vaccines, which provide protection against monkeypox. People who should consider vaccination are:

• Possible monkeypox contact in the past 14 days. • Men who have sex with men. • Anyone with a high number of sexual partners or who participates in group sex. • Sex workers. • Anyone in the risk categories planning travel to a country experiencing an outbreak. Vaccination is recommended four to six weeks before leaving. Vaccination within four days of exposure to someone who’s infectious with monkeypox will provide the highest chance of preventing disease. Avoiding close contact with people who have the infection can help prevent transmission. For more information on monkeypox visit health.act.gov.au/monkeypox

Article references: Jaya Dantas from Curtin University; The World Health Organisation; Centres for Disease Control & Prevention and ACT Health. Edited by Alexander Thatcher.