Mpox, a disease known as monkeypox, is transmitted through close contact, such as sex, through skin contact, and through droplets – through breathing or talking at close range with an infected person. The disease can also be caught from an animal – mainly squirrels, rabbits, mice, rats – through contact with their blood and body fluids.
There are two variants of monkeypox virus – clade I and clade II. Although clade II caused a public health emergency in 2022, it was relatively mild. Clade I is associated with a higher risk of severe disease and higher mortality.
The main symptoms of monkeypox are similar to those of the flu – high fever, headaches, backache, weakness. After a few days, skin lesions appear, usually on the face, then spread to other parts of the body. When the rash appears, the sick person is contagious.
