No, you shouldn’t be freaking out about mpox.
But if history is any predictor, you shouldn’t be ignoring the virus either.
With an outbreak of mpox currently raging across the African continent – most notably in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – the World Health Organization on August 14 declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern.
Although a new strain of the virus, called clade Ib, has not yet made an appearance in the United States, the spread of mpox abroad has the American medical community on high alert.
Ohio healthcare providers are determined not to let the past repeat itself: A delayed reaction by public health officials to the virus in 2022 led to misinformation, panic and an initial lack of vaccine access.
“Because of what we went through two years ago, we wanted to get ahead of things very quickly,” said Keith DeLong, a nurse practitioner at Equitas Health who is coordinating the regional nonprofit health system’s response to mpox.
Coming on the heels of COVID-19, mpox – originally called monkeypox – emerged in 2022 as a virus that spread through close physical contact, including sexual contact. Although mpox is not considered to be a sexually transmitted infection, disproportionate rates of the virus within the community of men who have sex with men led to mpox being incorrectly labeled as a “gay” infection.
“There definitely is a ton of stigma around mpox, and that’s why education is so critically important,” said DeLong.
The mpox basics
According to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, mpox can be spread by:
- Close contact with a person infected with mpox virus
- Coming in contact with materials such as clothing, bedding or towels that are contaminated with the virus
- Touching mpox lesions on another person’s skin
- Coming into contact with respiratory droplets or secretions from the eyes, nose and mouth of a person with mpox
Symptoms can show up anywhere from five to 21 days after exposure and may include:
- A rash that may be located on hands, feet, chest, face, mouth or near the genitals
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Exhaustion
- Cough or sore throat
A person is no longer infected when the lesions have completely healed and the scabs have fallen off.
Two doses towards prevention
The key to prevention?
“Vaccines are of the utmost importance,” said DeLong.
Remembering the slow roll-out of vaccine access in 2022, the health community is determined not to make the mistakes of the past.
The JYNNEOS vaccine for mpox became commercially available on April 1, 2024, and some health insurance plans began to cover the cost of the vaccine shortly after.
Equitas Health is hosting vaccine clinics at its health centers in Columbus, Cincinnati and Akron. The LGBTQ+ health provider is also working with health departments to increase access to the vaccine at other sites.
“There isn’t always equitable access to the vaccine,” DeLong said. “For example, Summit County has seen less availability than other areas, so we’re really trying to advertise and get folks in the door in some of those more underserved areas.”
DeLong stresses that education about the vaccine is as important as knowledge about the virus itself.
Key pieces to know about the vaccine:
- You must receive two doses of the vaccine. As long as they are administered at least 28 days apart, the time between doses does not matter.
- Even if you have only received one dose since the vaccine was introduced in 2022, receiving the second dose will complete the vaccination. T“There’s no need to restart, as the immune system has an amazing memory,” DeLong said.
- There currently is not a recommendation for a booster for those who have completed the two doses.
There is a small risk of side effects due to a reaction between the mpox vaccine and a COVID booster. DeLong said the two shots should either be given on the same day or 28 days apart.
- There are no risks currently documented between the mpox vaccine and a flu vaccine.
- In the event that an individual contracts mpox, healthcare professionals may treat it with antiviral drugs used to treat smallpox.
Much has been learned in the past two years on how to address mpox, but making sure that information gets out there to the communities who need it continues to be an ongoing public health challenge.
For now, the mpox message is one of awareness and commitment. And a healthy dose of calm.
“Don’t freak out,” DeLong said. “But do something. And by something, I mean: Get vaccinated.” 🔥
IGNITE ACTION
- Visit Equitas Health’s mpox landing page with info on vaccines, testing and treatment by going here.
Know an LGBTQ+ Ohio story we should cover? TELL US!
Submit a story!
