International concern

Monkey Pox, Public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) WHO, Wednesday, 14 August Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Monkeypox virus, double stranded DNA virus Smallpox family of orthopoxviruses Not related to chickenpox First seen in monkeys, 1958 First human case 1970 Clade I Causes more severe illness and deaths Endemic to Central Africa Clade II Caused the global outbreak that began in 2022 Infections are less severe 99.9% of people survive Endemic to West Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Clade 1b Emerged September 2023, sex worker This year, 15,000 infections, 548 deaths Spread to Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda. Sweden One clade 1 case, returning traveller Transmission Person-to-person through close contact Face-to-face (droplets or short-range aerosols) There are no confirmed instances of airborne transmission Limited household transmission has been described in the UK Assessment (confidence): Transmitting primarily through close or sexual contact (moderate) Skin-to-skin (and sex) Mouth to mucous membranes Mouth-to-mouth Mouth-to-skin Global outbreak that began in 2022 Mostly spread through sexual contact Infectious period Until lesions have crusted over, the scabs have fallen off and a new layer of skin has formed underneath. Until lesions in the mouth, throat, eyes, vagina and anus have healed, usually takes from 2 to 4 weeks. Virus to persist for some time on textiles and fomites Viral entry more likely through cuts or abrasions or touch eyes, nose, mouth or other mucous membranes During pregnancy to the baby From animals to humans Classified as a zoonotic disease Physical contact with an infected animal, monkeys, tree squirrel Bites or scratches Risk of Severe Disease Immunocompromise Children younger than 1 History of eczema Pregnant women Vaccines Smallpox/monkeypox vaccine (JYNNEOS™) is made using weakened live vaccinia virus and cannot cause smallpox, monkeypox, or any other infectious disease.