Mpox is a rare viral infection, transmitted mainly by wild animals found in areas of West and Central Africa. It is caused by the monkeypox virus, a DNA virus belonging to the genus Orthopoxvirus.

How is it transmitted?

It is transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal (mainly rodent) and more rarely from eating undercooked meat or through contact with the skin or fur of an infected animal.

According to EODY, person-to-person transmission it occurs through contact with skin lesions/bodily fluids of the sufferer and especially sexual contact and/or with contaminated objects, as well as through respiratory droplets after prolonged close contact. The incubation time of the disease is 6 to 13 days with a variation of 5 to 21 days.

Which has appeared

On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Mpox epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and 4 neighboring countries (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda), where the disease has spread, as an emergency Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Shocks have also been reported recently in parts of South Africa.

On 14/08/2024 it was declared the first Mpox case of phylogenetic group Ib in Europe in a traveler from Africa.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of infection from Mpox include fever, headache, myalgias, back pain, lymphadenopathy, chills and exhaustion, while the majority of cases are mild. The characteristic rash usually appears 1 to 5 days after the onset of symptoms. In certain population groups such as pregnant women, young children, people with immunosuppression the disease can be serious.

Currently the risk of transmission is moderate for people with multiple sexual partners and low for the general population, while for people who visit areas where cases of Mpox are reported and have close contact with the local population the risk is high, says EODY.

Instructions for travelers

Travelers visiting countries where cases of Mpox are reported, and especially high-risk travelers such as seafarers (whose ships approach ports in affected countries), security forces, people who will be traveling for a long time, for work or for humanitarian assistance, are recommended before traveling, be informed about the way the disease is transmitted and observe the following personal protection measures, such as:

  • Practice hand hygiene – frequent washing with soap and water or use of an alcohol-based hand rub if hands are not visibly soiled.
  • Avoid contact of hands with mouth, nose and eyes.
  • Avoiding contact with wild animals, live or dead, or eating undercooked meat derived from them.
  • Avoid using products (creams, lotions, powders) derived from wild animals.
  • Practice safe sex practices.
  • Avoiding contact with people who show symptoms and especially skin lesions or genital lesions, as well as with their clothes and bedding.
  • Avoiding direct contact with patients, bodily fluids of patients, corpses/bodily fluids of the dead.
  • Postponement of travel in the event of symptoms compatible with monkeypox.
  • Vaccination is recommended for people belonging to a high-risk category as described on the EODY website (https://eody.gov.gr/disease/proin-eylogia-ton-pithikon-mpox/)

During travel, if symptoms consistent with monkeypox develop, medical attention should be sought immediately and contact with other people should be avoided. In the event that the traveler develops symptoms during his return, by any means of transport, he should immediately seek medical attention upon arrival and report the recent travel history, so as to prevent the further spread of the disease and facilitate the contact tracing process.

After returning, travelers are advised to monitor their health for 21 days and in the event of symptoms to seek immediate medical attention mentioning recent travel.

According to the guidelines of the World Health Organization, there is no restriction regarding trade and international movements.