What Is MPOX? Checkout Everything You Need To Know About The Disease

If you thought the world was done with strange viruses, think again! Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox (because, apparently, we ran out of catchy names), is the latest guest to crash humanity’s party.

But don’t worry, while it might sound like something from a sci-fi movie, understanding Mpox is as simple as your grandma’s favorite soup recipe—minus the delicious ending, of course.

What is Mpox?

Mpox is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the same family as smallpox, though it’s not as severe (thank goodness for that!). Discovered back in 1958 in monkey colonies (hence the old name), it primarily spread through wild animals like rodents and primates. Humans started catching it when we couldn’t resist the urge to pet exotic animals or, more commonly, eat them—because who doesn’t want to try a rodent delicacy, right?

How Do You Contract Mpox?

So, you’re wondering, how does one actually get Mpox? Well, Mpox is not like your average cold where you just need to be in the same room as someone sneezing. Oh no, Mpox is classier. You can catch it through close contact with an infected animal or person. This includes touching their sores, body fluids, or even the contaminated materials like bedding. Yes, that means you might want to rethink those sleepovers with anyone feeling under the weather or avoid cuddling any exotic pets (we’re looking at you, Carol Baskin).

It can also spread through respiratory droplets, but only if you’re in close and prolonged contact with an infected person. In other words, if you’re going to be breathing down someone’s neck, make sure they’re not carrying Mpox first.

What Are the Symptoms?

Now, what happens if Mpox decides to pay you a visit? The symptoms might feel like a greatest hits collection of every viral infection you’ve ever had. It starts with fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. So far, it sounds like any random flu, right? But Mpox is a bit more creative. Within a few days, you’ll notice a rash that typically begins on your face before spreading to other parts of your body. This rash then evolves into pus-filled blisters (lovely, right?), which eventually scab over and fall off.

The whole process from fever to scab-falling can take 2 to 4 weeks. During this time, you might feel like a character in a post-apocalyptic film, but hey, at least you’ll have an interesting story to tell.

Prevention and Treatment

The best way to avoid Mpox is to avoid contact with infected animals and people. In case of an outbreak, regular hand washing, wearing masks, and avoiding direct contact with infected individuals are recommended. And no, there’s no specific treatment for Mpox, but supportive care (hydration, pain relief) can help you through it.

A smallpox vaccine can also offer some protection against Mpox, which is great news if you’re into vintage solutions. But before you start Googling where to get your hands on one, it’s typically reserved for those at high risk or in outbreak situations.