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22nd August 2024
08:18pm BST
The World Health Organisation declared the latest Mpox outbreak in Africa a "public health emergency of international concern."
There are fears the increase in cases in Africa may lead to a global outbreak after a case was diagnosed in Sweden.
The HSE has confirmed that cases in Ireland remain low with the first case being diagnosed in February this year followed by four more since then. No outbreak has been recorded in Ireland, but the 2024 cases were caused by clade II mpox, which is the same form that caused the 2022 global outbreak.
The HPSC has confirmed that no cases of clade Ia or Ib have been detected in Ireland.
The virus is spread from person to person through very close contact including sexual or intimate contact.
It is also spread through close contact, touching clothing, bedding, or towels used by someone who is infected.
It is also spread by touching mpox skin blisters or scabs or the coughs or sneezes of a person with mpox when they're very close to you.
Anyone can be infected with the virus but most cases are commonly found in men who are gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men.
The main symptoms include an itchy rash, headaches, a fever, muscle aches, and backaches.
You may also suffer from swollen glands, shivering, exhaustion, a runny nose, and a cough.
Your symptoms will often appear between five and 21 days of being infected.
The rash often appears between one to five days after your first symptoms. It can spread on your face and then to your mouth, palms of your hands, or soles of your feet.
If spread through sexual contact then the rash may appear on your genitals.
Those with weak immune systems, infants, and pregnant women may suffer more severe symptoms.
There is no known cure for mpox but the virus will usually go away on its own.
Those with mpox should contact their GP and local STI clinic.
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