Near East University Faculty of Medicine, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Prof. Dr. Kaya Süer, and Public Health Department Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Özen Aşut, explained what needs to be known about “monkeypox, Mpox”, which has alarmed the World Health Organization.

The “Mpox” virus, which has recently attracted attention with the increasing number of cases worldwide, continues to maintain its place on the agenda with the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring a “global emergency”. Although the virus that causes the disease, commonly known as “Monkeypox”, was first seen in the African continent, was detected in many different countries such as Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Near East University Faculty of Medicine, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Prof. Dr. Kaya Süer, and Public Health Department Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Özen Aşut shared important information about the course of the disease and the precautions that should be taken.

Stating that the virus was first discovered in monkeys in 1958 and therefore called “monkey pox”, Prof. Dr. Özen Aşut stated that it was first seen in humans in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970. Stating that “This virus is a disease transmitted through close contact and causes skin lesions,” Prof. Dr. Özen Aşut said, “It is important to avoid contact and get vaccinated for protection.” Stating that the virus is transmitted to healthy people through contact with infected animals (biting, scratching, contact with blood and body fluids, contact with infected animal carcasses) or infected people, Prof. Dr. Kaya Süer said, “It usually heals within 2 to 4 weeks, but this can take longer in people with suppressed immunity and can cause serious consequences.”

Symptoms appear 1 to 21 days after exposure to the virus

The “Monkey Pox” disease has been reported in the DRC for over a decade, with the number of cases increasing each year. In the first eight months of 2024, the number of cases reported exceeded the previous year’s total, reaching 15,600. According to the European Surveillance System (TESSy), a total of 27,529 Mpox cases were detected in 46 countries in the European Region, while 12 cases were reported in Turkey.

Stating that the disease is usually transmitted through close physical contact with an infected person, Prof. Dr. Özen Aşut further said that it can sometimes be transmitted through contaminated objects such as the infected person’s clothing or sheets, cutting tools used in healthcare services or tools in tattoo parlors. “During the global outbreak in 2022, the virus was generally spread sexually, and people with multiple sexual partners constituted the highest risk group,” said Prof. Dr. Özen Aşut, and added, “Symptoms appear 1 to 21 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms include rash, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle and back pain, swollen lymph nodes and weakness. The disease is contagious until the rash completely heals.”

Starting points of skin rashes; face, arms and legs

Stating that skin rashes start to appear within 1 to 3 days after the fever starts, Prof. Dr. Kaya Süer said, “The starting points of rashes are often seen on the face, arms and legs.”

Stating that since the disease progresses with symptoms, it is not expected to be transmitted from people without clinical findings, Prof. Dr. Kaya Süer said, “People who come into contact with sick people should be monitored for three weeks. It usually recovers spontaneously within 2 to 4 weeks. However, this situation progresses with a death rate of 1 to 6 percent in people with suppressed immunity and children.” Prof. Dr. Kaya Süer emphasized that in order to make a diagnosis, virus DNA should be detected using the PCR method in samples taken from patients with symptoms.

Rapid isolation and strict precautions can reduce the spread of the disease

The aim of treating the disease is to alleviate the symptoms and prevent complications. The antiviral drug called “tecovirimat”, approved by the European Medicines Agency, is used in the treatment of Mpox.

WHO recommends avoiding physical contact with people with Mpox and vaccinating at-risk groups. Experts, who state that vaccines provide protection against infection and serious diseases, emphasize that caution should be exercised after vaccination as well. Experts emphasize that rapid isolation of people with symptoms will significantly reduce the frequency of spread of the disease. They also remind that the use of gloves, masks and personal protective equipment by people who will come into contact with sick people plays a critical role in preventing the transmission and spread of the disease.