Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is making headlines again as new cases emerge. The contagious disease, caused by the mpox virus, is similar to smallpox but usually milder.
Mpox has been surrounded by myths and misconceptions, making it hard for people to get accurate information. The myths often spread through repeated storytelling and can cause unnecessary fear and confusion.
Dr Themba Hadebe, the clinical executive at Bonitas Medical Fund, is here to set the record straight. In this update, we'll debunk some common myths about mpox and provide the facts you need to know to stay informed and safe.
Myth: Mpox (formerly monkeypox) is a new disease created in a lab
Fact: The mpox virus was discovered in Denmark (1958) in a colony of monkeys at a laboratory kept for research. The first reported human case was in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970.
Mpox is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be spread between animals and people. It is found regularly in parts of central and west Africa and can spread from person to person or, occasionally, from animals to people.
Myth: Mpox comes from monkeys
Fact: Despite its name, monkeypox does not come from monkeys. The disease earned its name when the pox-like outbreaks happened in research monkeys.
While monkeys can get mpox, they are not the reservoir (where a disease typically grows and multiplies). The reservoir appears to be rodents.
Myth: Only a handful of people have contracted mpox
Fact: In the first four months of 2024, more than 97 000 cases and 186 deaths due to mpox have been reported across 117 countries. South Africa is among those experiencing an outbreak.
As of July 5, the number of mpox cases in the country rose to 20, with four new cases confirmed in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. On a positive note, 15 patients have recovered and been given a clean bill of health.
Myth: Mpox is easy to diagnose
Fact: Diagnosing mpox can be tricky. The rash caused by mpox can look similar to other illnesses, like chickenpox, shingles or herpes, but there are key differences. Symptoms of mpox include fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.
Typically, fever, muscle aches and a sore throat appear first, followed by the rash. The pox dips in the centre before crusting over. Laboratory confirmation is required. A sample of one of the sores is diagnosed by a PCR test for the virus (MPXV).
Myth: Mpox is easily treated
Fact: The National Institute for Communicable Diseases says there is no registered treatment for mpox in South Africa.
“However, the World Health Organization recommends the use of Tpoxx for treatment of severe cases, in immunocompromised people.”
The Department of Health has obtained the treatment, with approval on a compassionate-use basis. There is no mpox vaccine available in South Africa.
Myth: You can get mpox from being in a crowd or from a public toilet seat
Fact: Mpox is not like Covid-19, which is highly contagious. It spreads through direct contact via blood, bodily fluid, skin or mucous lesions or respiratory droplets.
It can also spread through bites and scratches. Studies have shown that the virus can stay on surfaces but it is not spreading in that way or in a public setting. The risk of airborne transmission appears low.
Myth: Mpox is deadly
Fact: While mpox lesions can look similar to smallpox lesions, mpox infections are much milder and are rarely fatal.
That said, symptoms can be severe in some patients, needing hospitalisation and, in rare cases, result in death. It is, however, painful and unpleasant, so, it is important to avoid infection.
Myth: Mpox is sexually transmitted
Fact: You can become infected through close, direct contact with the lesions, rash, scabs or certain bodily fluids of someone who has mpox. Even though this could imply transmission through sexual activity, it is not limited to that.
You can also be exposed if you are in physical proximity to infected people, such as spouses or children who sleep in the same bed.