What are the symptoms of monkeypox and is there a vaccine?
Concern continues to mount over the global outbreak of monkeypox, with more than 2,100 cases detected in the UK – largely in London.
According to the NHS, the illness was mainly found in West Africa and Central Africa prior to the outbreak, which began in early May 2022 across much of Europe.
Monkeypox is now classed as a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
But what exactly is monkeypox, and what are the key symptoms that you need to look out for?
Here is everything you need to know.
What is monkeypox?
A rare infection, monkeypox is described as zoonotic – meaning it is normally seen in animals.
However, the disease can spread to humans from an infected animal if you’re bitten or you touch its blood, body fluids, spots, blisters, or scabs.
The infection is a member of the same family of viruses as smallpox, although it is much less severe.
It’s not common for monkeypox to spread from person to person. But, according to the NHS, it can be spread through:
- Touching clothing, bedding, or towels used by someone with the monkeypox rash
- Touching monkeypox skin blisters or scabs
- Coughs or sneezes.
What are monkeypox symptoms?
According to the NHS, a rash will usually appear between one to five days after infection – generally beginning on the face before spreading.
The rash is sometimes confused with chickenpox.
It starts as raised spots, which turn into small blisters filled with fluid. These blisters eventually form scabs that later fall off.
Between one and 21 days after infection, you may experience the following symptoms:
- High temperature
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Backache
- Swollen glands
- Shivering
- Exhaustion.
All in all, symptoms can last around two to four weeks.
Research led by Queen Mary University of London has also flagged that ‘in some people, anal and oral symptoms have led to people being admitted to hospital for management of pain and difficulties swallowing’.
If you’re concerned about having symptoms, the NHS advises you to stay home, avoid close contact (or sharing towels/bedding) with other people, and call (not visit in person) your local sexual health clinic.
If you can’t reach a sexual health clinic, call 111 for advice.
How is monkeypox treated?
Treatment takes place in a specialist hospital to prevent the spread of monkeypox.
There is no single cure for monkeypox, so treatment is largely focused on relieving symptoms.
This includes lowering your temperature, easing pain, and taking antibiotics to help fight the infection.
Most people with the infection will make a full recovery within two to four weeks.
Is there a monkeypox vaccine?
There isn’t a specific vaccine for monkeypox. However, the Imvanex vaccine used against smallpox – a more severe virus which has since been eradicated – is said to offer protection.
According to the WHO, the jab was ‘demonstrated through observational studies to be about 85% effective in preventing monkeypox’.
While anyone can catch monkeypox, in the UK, men who are gay, bisexual or have sex with men are at higher risk of contracting the illness at present.
Therefore UKHSA announced in June that these higher-risk individuals will be offered the jab.
Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at UKHSA, said at the time: ‘Our extensive contact tracing work has helped to limit the spread of the monkeypox virus, but we are continuing to see a notable proportion of cases in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.
‘By expanding the vaccine offer to those at higher risk, we hope to break chains of transmission and help contain the outbreak.
‘Although most cases are mild, severe illness can occur in some people, so it is important we use the available vaccine to target groups where spread is ongoing.’
In July 2022, the NHS revealed it was upping its vaccination programme across England, particularly in London where most cases are – with more than 100,000 Imvanex jabs being rolled out.
MORE : Monkeypox: What is a global health emergency as WHO declares one?
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