MPOX is a disease caused by the MPOX virus. People with MPOX develop bumps or blisters (smallpox) that are painful and can leave scars. Since the spring of 2022, the disease has been spreading across the world.
Clinical picture
The main symptoms are fever, head and muscle pain, fatigue and red spots on the skin that turn into blisters. These blisters can be painful. Blisters can be on the skin but also in less visible places such as in the mouth. After the blisters have dried, scabs form that fall off after 2-3 weeks. Scars may then remain.
How is it transmitted?
Anyone can become infected, and the virus occurs in all age groups. The virus is transmitted from one person to another through the fluid in the blisters, but saliva and scabs can also be contagious. Spread can also sometimes occur via contaminated materials such as sheets. You may already be contagious before there are visible symptoms.
The greatest risk of infection is through intimate contact such as kissing, hugging, and sex with someone who is infected. The virus can enter other people through mucous membranes or small skin wounds.
What to do in case of symptoms?
To prevent further spread, it is important to consult your general practitioner if you experience symptoms. If necessary, the GP can collect a sample using a cotton swab for laboratory testing. Usually, no treatment is needed, and the symptoms resolve on their own. However, to prevent the spread of the virus, it is important to stay at home and avoid touching others until the symptoms have passed.
If MPOX has been diagnosed, it is important to also inform people with whom you have had close contact so that they can also be alert for symptoms.
Vaccination
Vaccination campaigns are currently being set up worldwide. On Bonaire, too, it is being determined which groups may be eligible for a vaccination offer. Although anyone, regardless of gender, nationality, or age, can become infected with the MPOX virus, international data shows that most cases are currently reported among specific groups. These groups include men who have sex with men and transgender people, who are at increased risk of MPOX. Therefore, they can get vaccinated against MPOX at Public Health Bonaire. The goal of this is to prevent infections and future outbreaks and to keep the burden of the disease as low as possible.
By the way
In the Netherlands, MPOX is also known as ‘apenpokken. On Bonaire, ‘apenpokken’, or ‘monkeypox’ is used as the name for skin infections that primarily affect young children. These skin infections in children, also known as impetigo, are caused by bacteria commonly found on the skin and not by the smallpox virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) calls on countries to prepare to identify all cases of MPOX. The WHO also calls for the necessary measures to be taken to prevent human-to-human transmission and for special attention to be paid to prevent stigmatization and discrimination against individuals and/or groups.
Here you will find more reliable information about MPOX: RIVM – Mpox
Questions
For questions, please contact Public Health Bonaire on telephone number (+599) 715 5324 or email the infectious disease control department at izb@bonairegov.com .
