MPOX UPDATE: 20/10/2022
You can now use the NHS MPox vaccine tool to find a vaccination appointment near you.
Click here to find out more
The World Health Organisation are now encouraging everyone to call the virus MPox rather than Monkeypox. The content within this article will be updated accordingly.
Mpox is a rare infection that is most commonly found in west or central Africa. Over the summer of 2022, there was an increase in cases in the UK, and a rise in the cases recorded in Manchester, but the risk of catching it is still relatively low.
The virus is passed on through skin-to-skin contact, however research does suggest that the virus is predominantly being passed on through intimate and sexual contact, including kissing and cuddling.
Anyone can catch Mpox, however the majority of cases seen in the UK have been in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, with the virus being passed on predominantly via close contact in interconnected sexual networks.
Gay, bi and other men who have sex with men with multiple sexual partners are at higher risk of having frequent or very close contact with someone with Mpox.
While the infection is mild for many, it can cause severe symptoms and pain and some people may require hospitalisation.
Mpox infection usually starts with fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and fatigue. It can take between 5 days and 21 days after infection for the first symptoms to appear.
This is followed a few days later by the appearance of a rash, often starting on the face then spreading to other parts of the body including the genitals, anus, hands, and/or in the mouth. It starts as raised spots, which turn into small blisters filled with fluid (lesions), eventually forming scabs which later fall off. Some people might have a single lesion and other people have lots of lesions.
A person with Mpox is considered contagious from the onset of symptoms until all of the blisters (lesions) have scabbed over, all of the scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of skin has formed underneath. This can take several weeks.
We worked together this year to keep each other safe at Manchester Pride.
We advised everyone to be aware of the symptoms of Mpox and check yourself before you travelled to Manchester or attend any events. And if you spotted any symptoms you everyone was advised to self-isolate at home and call 111 or your sexual health clinic.
David Regan, Manchester's Director of Public Health said:
"It would appear based on early data that Greater Manchester did not see a spike in monkeypox cases as a result of Pride. We know there was a degree of concern in the run up to this celebration but through the incredible response from our LGBTQ+ community and the success of our vaccination programme, our cases have remained under control.
“Thank you to everyone for keeping up-to-date with the latest information about monkeypox and keeping yourself and our communities safe. Please stay aware of signs and symptoms, check yourself regularly and contact NHS 111 or a sexual health clinic if you have concerns. More vaccines will be available soon.”
Cases are much lower than they have been for the last few months, with newly recorded cases being under 10 each week in October. But please consider the personal risk of a person who may contract Mpox, it can be extremely dangerous and even fatal to someone with an autoimmune disease including HIV so it's important to try and keep others safe if you are hooking up with them.
It's also important to remember that the vaccine is not 100% effective the most effective way to prevent the spread of Mpox is to monitor your symptoms and avoid close skin-to-skin contact and sexual activity if you are showing symptoms.
Required isolation for very close contacts has now ended, but it is still a good idea for contacts of cases to take a break from sex and avoid any skin-to-skin contact. Please consider sitting out close-contact events if you have been identified as a close contact of someone with Mpox.If you are registered with Northern Sexual Health, you may be able to find some relevant information here.
Vaccines are now more widely available in Greater Manchester, you can find out more about vaccines here.
Further information about Mpox can be found:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mpox-vaccination-resources
https://thenorthernsexualhealth.co.uk/mpox
https://lgbt.foundation/mpox
https://gmintegratedcare.org.uk/health-news/additional-clinics-open-across-greater-manchester-to-offer-second-dose-mpox-vaccines/
