Monkeypox tests

What is Monkey Pox?

A rare viral infection commonly found in west and central Africa. Cases are on the rise recently in the UK but the risk of catching the infection remains extremely low.

The virus is passed from person to person via -

• Close physical contact including sexual contact, kissing, cuddling and holding hands.
• Making contact with clothing, towels and bedding belonging to someone with monkeypox.
• Being in close proximity of a cough or sneeze from someone infected with monkeypox.

What are the symptoms of Monkeypox?

Monkeypox can easily be confused with chickenpox as the symptoms are similar. Chickenpox tends to affect children while monkeypox tends to affect adults.

Symptoms usually appear 5 to 21 days post exposure to the virus. Symptoms can include -

• Fever / shivering
• Headaches
• Muscular pain, backache and/or joint pain
• Swollen glands
• Fatigue
• Rash (see below)

The rash usually appears between 1 to 5 days after the first symptoms and will usually start as raised spots which will turn into small fluid filled blisters. It will usually start on the face before spreading to other parts of the body (this can include the mouth, genitals and the anus).

Patients may also suffer from anal pain and bleeding. Eventually the blisters will scab over and fall off. The symptoms will clear up after a few weeks but can be passed to other whilst symptoms are present. Because less is known about monkeypox, confirmed cases are advised to isolate for the whole 3-4 weeks that they might be affected.

When to contact a sexual health clinic

If you develop a rash with blisters/sores, anal pain/bleeding and any of the following -

• had close contact, including sexual contact, with someone who has or is suspected to have monkeypox in the past 3 weeks.
• had one or more new sexual partners on the past 3 weeks.
• been to west or central Africa in the past 3 weeks.

Patients should stay at home and avoid any close contact, including sharing towels or bedding until you have been advised it is safe to do so. If you are unable to contact a sexual health clinic, call 111 and seek advice from NHS 24.

What are the treatment options for Monkeypox

Most cases of monkeypox are mild and patients will recover without treatment within a few weeks. If symptoms are severe in nature, then the patient may need to be admitted to hospital for supportive treatment. Certain groups of patients are more likely to need hospital treatment -

• older patients.
• young children.
• patients who are currently taking medication which suppresses their immune system.

Monkeypox can be passed on to other people through close contact, therefore it is important to isolate if you have been diagnosed with monkeypox.

Vaccination to protect against Monkeypox

The monkeypox virus is very similar to the smallpox virus. Therefore, the smallpox vaccine is likely to give a good level of protection against monkeypox also. The NHS is currently offering the monkeypox vaccine to individuals most at risk of contracting the illness.

The vaccine may also be offered alongside other appointments e.g. patients attending for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) appointments may be offered the vaccine at the same appointment. The following groups of people are most at risk -

• healthcare workers looking after patients with confirmed or suspected monkeypox.
• men who are gay, bisexual or have sex with other men and those with multiple partners.
• People who have been in close contact with someone that has a confirmed case of monkeypox. These individuals should be vaccinated ideally within 4 days of exposure, but no later than 14 days post exposure.

Useful Information

Find a sexual health clinic

Symptom advice - contact 111 online

NHS web information on monkeypox