Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is your trusted source for mpox education and updates. As the region’s health care leader, we are prepared to respond to any potential spread of the mpox virus.
At LVHN, we are here for you and can provide the best treatments should you or a loved one need mpox care.
Where did mpox come from?
The first human case of mpox was recorded in 1970 with relatively few reported cases thereafter.
In 2022, cases of mpox increased globally, and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern on July 23, 2022. The public health emergency was ended on May 11, 2023.
More recently, a new strain of mpox (clade 1b) was detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and an uptick in new cases was reported in four countries adjacent to the DRC that had not reported mpox cases before: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Based on this information, on Aug. 14, 2024, the WHO declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern.
Mpox symptoms
Symptoms of mpox can include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches and backache
- Swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy)
- Chills
- Exhaustion
Another symptom is a rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth and on other parts of the body, such as 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. Others only experience a rash.
Mpox transmission
Mpox virus can spread from person to person; however, it is not easily transmitted person to person. Mpox can spread by direct contact with the lesions or body fluids of an infected person or with virus-contaminated objects, such as bedding or clothing. Mpox virus can also spread to humans from an infected animal through an animal bite or direct contact with the animal’s lesions or body fluids. The virus can be transmitted by respiratory droplets during direct and prolonged face-to-face contact (within 6-foot radius for longer than three hours). There is a concern about an increased risk of transmission during sexual and intimate contact, especially between men who have sex with men. However, anyone can be infected with mpox if close personal contact occurs with an infected individual.
If you think you have mpox
If you believe you have mpox, contact your primary care doctor or clinician for evaluation. If you are sick with symptoms, isolate at home.
While isolating, monitor the following symptoms and document the information to share with your primary care doctor or clinician:
- Check your temperature twice daily with a reliable thermometer.
- Inspect your skin for rash or lesions, noting location, and record.
- Monitor for chills with or without fever, and record.
- Check for lymph node swelling/tenderness around the neck, and record.
- Note any other new symptoms that you develop during this monitoring period.
Mpox treatment
Currently, there are no treatments specifically for mpox virus infections, but mpox is similar to smallpox. Antiviral medications and vaccines developed to protect against smallpox may be used to prevent and treat mpox virus infections. Antiviral medication may be recommended for people who are more likely to get severely ill, such as patients with weakened immune systems.
Mpox prevention
To avoid contracting mpox:
- Avoid close or skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like mpox.
- Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with mpox.
- Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with mpox.
- Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels or clothing of a person with mpox unless wearing protective attire.
- Follow strict hand hygiene with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Document your recent travel and potential exposure to help track the source of the infection.
Is there a vaccine for mpox?
Yes, there is a vaccine to help prevent mpox. Jynneos is a two-dose vaccine developed to protect against mpox and smallpox. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends both doses of the vaccine for the best protection against mpox. The second dose should be given four weeks after the first dose, according to the CDC. To find a location near you that offers the mpox vaccine, visit the CDC’s Mpox Vaccine Recommendations page and enter your ZIP code in the mpox vaccine locator tool. LVHN and the Pennsylvania Department of Health offer mpox vaccinations.