Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu, warning about the symptoms, treatment methods, and precautions for Mpox (monkeypox) disease, stated that the disease spreads through touching, kissing, contaminated materials such as sheets, clothes, or needles, and respiratory droplets resulting from prolonged close contact via face-to-face interaction (speaking or breathing).
Pointing out the importance of distinguishing Mpox from chickenpox, measles, bacterial skin infections, scabies, herpes, syphilis, other sexually transmitted infections, and drug-related allergies, Prof. Dr. Kalemoğlu said, “Testing is crucial for people to receive treatment as early as possible and to prevent further spread.”
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu, a faculty member at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine, shared important information about Mpox (monkeypox) disease, warning about its symptoms, transmission routes, treatment methods, and precautions.
Can Be Transmitted from Person to Person
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu stated that Mpox (monkeypox) disease is known as an infectious disease caused by a virus belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus, manifesting with symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, and skin rashes, and noted that the disease can be transmitted from person to person, especially through physical contact, contaminated materials, or contact with infected animals.
“Laboratory testing for Mpox is done by PCR testing of skin lesion material. Mpox is treated with supportive care. Vaccines and therapeutics developed for smallpox and approved for use in some countries can be used for Mpox in certain situations,” said Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu, adding that a strain known as “Clade IIb” caused a global Mpox outbreak in 2022-2024.
Vaccination Can Help Prevent Infection for People at Risk
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu stated that Mpox (monkeypox) disease can be prevented by avoiding physical contact with someone who has Mpox, adding, “Vaccination can help prevent infection for people at risk.”
Most People Recover Completely, But Some Become Very Ill
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu stated that Mpox (monkeypox) disease can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, and fever, adding, “Most people recover completely, but some become very ill. Mpox can spread from person to person or sometimes from animals to people. Following the eradication of smallpox in 1980 and the cessation of smallpox vaccination worldwide, Mpox steadily emerged in central, eastern, and western Africa. A global outbreak occurred in 2022-2023.”
The Disease Can Also Spread Through Contaminated Sheets or Clothing
Explaining that person-to-person transmission of Mpox can occur through direct contact with infectious skin, oral, or other lesions such as on the genitals, Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu said, “Anyone can get the Mpox virus. The disease spreads interpersonally through touching, kissing, or sex, through contaminated materials like sheets, clothes, or needles, and via respiratory droplets or short-range aerosols resulting from prolonged close contact face-to-face (speaking or breathing) (such as in front and back rows on an airplane, public transport, or enclosed spaces).”
Environments like Tattoo Parlors are Also Risky
Stating that the virus enters the body through broken skin, mucosal surfaces (e.g., oral, pharyngeal, ocular, genital, anorectal), or the respiratory tract, Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu informed, “Mpox can spread to other household members and sex partners. Individuals with multiple sex partners are at higher risk. Animal-to-human transmission of Mpox occurs through bites or scratches from infected animals, or during activities such as hunting, skinning, trapping, cooking, handling carcasses, or eating bushmeat. People can acquire Mpox from contaminated objects like clothing or bedding, through sharps injuries in healthcare settings, or in community environments such as tattoo parlors.”
The First Symptom of Mpox is a Rash
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu also noted that Mpox disease usually causes signs and symptoms that begin within a week but can start 1-21 days after exposure, stating, “Symptoms typically last 2-4 weeks but can last longer in a person with a weakened immune system. Common symptoms of Mpox include fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, back pain, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes. For some people, the first sign of Mpox is a rash, while others may have different symptoms first. The rash begins as a flat sore that becomes a fluid-filled blister and can be itchy or painful. As the rash heals, the lesions dry, scab over, and fall off. Some people may have one or a few skin lesions, while others may have hundreds or more. These can appear anywhere on the body.”
The First Lesion Can Be in the Groin, Inside or Around the Mouth
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu stated that in the context of the global Mpox outbreak that began in 2022 (mostly caused by the Clade IIb virus), the disease started differently in some people, with the rash appearing before or at the same time as other symptoms in slightly more than half of cases, and also reminded that the first lesion could be in the groin, anus, inside or around the mouth.
Death Can Also Occur
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu also explained that in some patients, pneumonia, corneal infection with vision loss; pain or difficulty swallowing, vomiting and diarrhea leading to severe dehydration or malnutrition; sepsis (infection of the blood with a widespread inflammatory response in the body), brain inflammation (encephalitis), heart muscle inflammation (miyokardit), inflammation of the rectum (proctitis), genital organs (balanitis), or urinary tract (urethritis), or death can be observed, noting, “People with immune suppression due to drugs or medical conditions have a higher risk of severe illness and death due to Mpox, and people living with HIV that is not well-controlled or treated more frequently develop severe illness.”
Early Treatment and Preventing Spread Are Very Important
Pointing out the importance of distinguishing Mpox from chickenpox, measles, bacterial skin infections, scabies, herpes, syphilis, other sexually transmitted infections, and drug-related allergies, Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu said, “A person with Mpox might also have another sexually transmitted infection like herpes. Alternatively, a child suspected of having Mpox might also have chickenpox. For these reasons, testing is very important for people to receive treatment as early as possible and to prevent further spread. Detection of viral DNA by PCR is the preferred laboratory test for Mpox.”
Treatment and Vaccination
Stating that getting the Mpox vaccine can help prevent infection, Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu said, “The vaccine should be given within 4 days after contact with someone who has Mpox (or up to 14 days if there are no symptoms). It is recommended that individuals at high risk get vaccinated to prevent Mpox infection, especially during an outbreak. This includes healthcare workers at risk of exposure, sex workers. People with Mpox should be cared for away from others. Quarantine should be implemented.”
Individuals Vaccinated with the Classical Smallpox Vaccine are Thought to be 85% Resistant
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu stated that various antivirals, such as tecovirimat, initially developed to treat smallpox, are being used to treat Mpox, and further studies are ongoing, adding, “It is stated that vaccines produced with the Ankara virus strain, in particular, have clinical significance for the Mpox vaccine. New mRNA vaccine development studies are underway. Meanwhile, individuals who have received the classical Smallpox Vaccine are thought to be 85% resistant to this virus. Scars from vaccination are on the left arm or forearm. Generally, this vaccine has not been administered in our country after 1980.”
Self-Care and Prevention
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu noted that most people with Mpox recover within 2-4 weeks and continued:
“If you have Mpox, tell everyone you’ve been close to recently, stay home until all scabs have fallen off and a new layer of skin has formed, cover lesions and wear a well-fitting mask when around other people, and avoid physical contact. Stay at home and in your own room if possible. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or hand sanitizer, especially before and after touching sores. Wear a mask and cover lesions when around other people until your rash heals. Keep skin dry and exposed (unless you are in a room with someone else). Avoid touching items in shared areas and disinfect shared areas frequently. Use saltwater gargles for mouth sores. Take sitz baths or warm baths with baking soda or Epsom salts (Magnesium sulfate) for body sores. Take over-the-counter medications for pain such as paracetamol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen.”
Things Not to Do!
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu provided information about things not to do, stating, “Do not scratch blisters or scratch wounds or shave affected areas until scabs have healed and new skin has formed underneath (this can slow healing, spread the rash to other parts of the body, and cause wounds to become infected). To prevent the spread of Mpox to others, people with Mpox should be isolated at home or, if necessary, in a hospital during the infectious period (from the onset of symptoms until lesions heal and scabs fall off). Covering lesions and wearing a medical mask when around others can help prevent spread. Using condoms during sex helps reduce the risk of getting Mpox but does not prevent spread from skin-to-skin or mouth-to-skin contact.”