What is Mpox?
The Bethlehem Health Bureau is monitoring Mpox in agreement to guidelines from the CDC and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The Mpox virus is spreading mostly through close, intimate contact with someone who has Mpox. People who think they have Mpox or have had close personal contact with someone who has Mpox should visit a healthcare provider to help them decide if they need to be tested for Mpox. If they decide that you should be tested, they will work with you to collect the specimens and send them to a laboratory for testing.
What are the clinical features of Mpox?
Mpox does not spread easily between people; however, anyone in close contact with a person with Mpox can get it and should take steps to protect themselves. People who do not have Mpox symptoms cannot spread the virus to others. Symptoms of Mpox can include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, respiratory symptoms (e.g. sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough), and/or a rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus. The rash goes through different stages before healing completely. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. Sometimes, people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms while others only experience a rash. Symptoms usually appear one to two weeks after infection.
What if I have been exposed to Mpox?
If you have been in contact with a case of Mpox, you should monitor your health and check your temperature twice daily. If symptoms develop, you should immediately self-isolate and contact your healthcare provider or the health department for further guidance. If you are a contact and remain asymptomatic, you can continue to do your routine daily activities (e.g., go to work, school). Contacts should not donate blood, cells, tissue, breast milk, semen, or organs while they are under symptom surveillance.
Is there a treatment or vaccine for Mpox?
There are no treatments specifically for Mpox virus infections. Because Mpox and smallpox viruses are genetically similar, vaccines developed to protect against smallpox viruses may be used to prevent Mpox infections. The U.S. government has two stockpiled vaccines—JYNNEOS and ACAM2000—that can prevent Mpox in people who are exposed to the virus. Vaccines may be recommended for people who have had or may have contact with someone who has Mpox, or for healthcare and public health workers who may be exposed to the virus. Individuals who think they meet the vaccine eligibility criteria can contact 1-877- PA-HEALTH to determine if they are eligible and where they can go to receive a dose.