Given the increasing cases of mpox, Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention has provided answers to the hot issues that residents are concerned about.
Q1. How has mpox spread since 2022?
A1. Mpox was an endemic viral disease that mainly occurred in central and western Africa before 2021 when most infections were caused by contact with infected animals. The person-to-person transmission chain was relatively short, and the disease was transmitted within a family or occasionally spread to other countries or regions.
The global outbreak of mpox began in May 2022 and has affected primarily men who have sex with men (MSM), most of whom are young and middle-aged males. They are mainly infected in large gathering events, then spread in MSM communities and places.
Q2. What are the features of mpox symptoms since 2022?
A2. Most cases since the 2022 outbreak show mild clinical symptoms.
Some have a rash around their genitals and anorectal mucosa without symptoms that spread over the body. Deaths occur in rare cases, especially for the immunocompromised, like people living with HIV that is not well controlled or treated.
Data show that since 2022, the disease has had a low death rate of about 0.1% in non-endemic areas globally.
Q3. What are the symptoms of mpox?
A3. The incubation period of mpox is 5-21 days, and 6-13 days in most cases.
Early symptoms include fever, headache, back pain, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes. For some people, a skin rash is the first symptom of mpox, while for most others, it occurs when the fever recedes.
An itchy and painful rash, which may extend to mucosal surfaces (e.g. oral, pharyngeal, anorectal, genital, ocular), evolves in stages—macules, papules, vesicles, pustules. Different skin lesions may exist at the same time. As the rash heals, the lesions dry up and fall off.
Symptoms of mpox typically last 2-4 weeks but may last longer in someone with a weakened immune system. The symptoms simply go away in most cases, while in others, they progress to severe cases and cause deaths, mainly among children, pregnant women, and persons with immune suppression.
Q4. Where to get mpox tests?
A4. If anyone is suspected of mpox, please visit the doctor and get tested.
Q5. What is the treatment for mpox?
A5. Supportive care is the mainstay of treatment for mpox, together with the prevention and treatment of secondary bacterial infection.
Q6. Should cases with mpox be quarantined?
A6. For suspected and confirmed cases, they should be transferred to medical institutions for quarantined treatment. If the symptoms significantly improve and the lesions turn into scabs, they can be isolated at home until the scabs fall off.
For confirmed cases with mild symptoms, they can undergo home quarantine with the approval of the medical institutions if home conditions allow.
For people isolated at home, they should stay in a separate room, avoid close contact with people they live with, and disinfect the objects they have touched. They are suggested not to leave their home unless necessary, and when they leave, make sure to wear a long-sleeve top, full-length trousers, and a surgical face mask.
They should keep their distance from crowded places and avoid physical contact with others. If they need medical support, they can call the institutions to send staff to their house or provide health advice and medical instructions over the phone.
Q7. Should close contacts of people with mpox undergo centralized isolation?
A7. There is no need for centralized isolation.
Health authorities will identify whether a person is a close contact with investigations and exposure risk assessment, and provide instructions for the person to conduct medical observation at home for 21 days from the date of the individual’s last exposure. They will check in with the close contacts by visiting or calling on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days to give medical advice or take measures if there are confirmed cases.
During the observation period, people can continue their daily life and go to work while monitoring their everyday temperature and avoiding blood donation and close contact with others. They should seek medical help when there are signs and symptoms of mpox and report the history of suspected contact to the medical institutions.
Q8. How to prevent mpox infection?
A8. People should pay attention to the information about mpox cases in their areas or travel destinations and avoid high-risk sexual behaviors in mpox-stricken areas.
Avoid close contact with the sexual partners if there is a rash around their genitals and anus because using condoms will not guarantee safety from mpox infection.
Q9. Will there be a widespread outbreak of mpox?
A9. The mpox virus enters the body through mucosal surfaces and broken skin, mainly spreading among MSM.
The spreading of the disease can be contained with the public raising their awareness of mpox prevention and immediate treatment.
Q10. What should outbound and inbound travelers pay attention to?
A10. Travelers should keep an eye on the mpox spread information released by the local authorities in their destinations and keep away from rodents, primates, and people with symptoms.
If inbound travelers from countries or regions with reported cases have a suspected history of close contact, they should conduct a 21-day self-health observation and avoid close contact with other people. Once symptoms such as fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes appear, they are advised to seek medical help and inform the doctor of their travel history.
Author | Teria Wang (intern), Hannah
Editor | Olivia, Steven, Jasmine, James
