The ‘most commonly missed’ symptoms of mpox revealed – as 5th case of killer strain detected in UK
Health officials have warned of the fifth incidence of a new, potentially more severe strain of mpox found in the UK.
A person who had just returned from Uganda, where there has been an increase in mpox cases in recent weeks, was found to have the infection in Leeds.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reports that the patient is currently receiving treatment at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
In recent weeks, England has identified five cases of a mutant form of mpox, known as Clade 1b.
According to UKHSA, the Leeds patient is unrelated to the four other instances that were found in the same home in October.
Health officials maintain that the risk to the UK public “remains low” despite the increase in illnesses.
Read more on mpox
The UKHSA is currently “working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce the risk of any potential spread,” according to Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser.
She continued: “Investigations are underway to learn how the individual acquired the infection and to assess whether there are any further associated cases.”
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DCR), where the disease began to spread quickly last year, there have been hundreds of fatalities and thousands of cases of the new mpox form.
In recent months, the disease has also been significantly spreading in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya.
However, the Clade 1b strain has spread to other continents; imported cases have been found in Asia and Europe.
After Sweden reported the first occurrence of the mutant insect in August, Germany reported its first case in October.
Risk of mpox being ‘confused with chickenpox’ after new killer strain detected in the UK – how to spot both
Additionally, cases have been documented in the US, Thailand, and India.
It was claimed in October that the disease had killed over 1,000 individuals and infected over 25,000 people; the infection has been circulating ever since.
The rapid spread of the novel form of the disease and its high death rate have alarmed scientists.
For the second time in two years, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the disease’s growing spread to be a global health emergency as a result.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a virus that causes pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms.
The Clade 2 strain, which has been circulating in the UK since 2022 and is believed to cause more severe disease, is not the same as the Clade 1b strain.
The patient is thought to have contracted the virus while on vacation in an outbreak-affected African nation. The first UK case tested positive for the Clade 1b strain on October 29 in London.
The infected individual was transferred to London’s Royal Free Hospital, a high-consequence infectious diseases center that has previously treated Ebola patients.
The illness also struck three members of the patient’s household, although all four have since recovered.
Abbas Kanani, the supervisor pharmacist at Chemist Click, told The Sun what signs of mpox to watch out for while preparations are being made in the UK to handle further cases.
Mpox symptoms and those easily missed
A cutaneous rash or pus-filled lesions that persist two to four weeks are common signs of mpox.
However, it can also result in additional symptoms like:
- High temperature
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Backache
- Swollen glands
- Shivering (chills)
- Exhaustion
- Joint pain
According to Mr. Kanani, a facial rash often develops one to five days following the onset of symptoms.
It can be confused with chickenpox due to its appearance of elevated areas and tiny, fluid-filled blisters, and it frequently spreads to other body sites like the mouth, anus, and genitalia.
There may also be anal pain and bleeding.
According to Mr. Kanani, the most prevalent symptom is usually a skin rash that lasts two to four weeks.
According to him, some people may experience a rash as their initial symptom, while others may experience other symptoms first.
However, Kanani cautioned that enlarged glands or lymph nodes are one indication that is frequently overlooked.
He clarified that enlarged glands or lymph nodes are frequently confused for other conditions and are not always evident, especially if the swelling is slight or deep within the body.
Additionally, since the rash is typically the most noticeable mpox symptom, this one may go unnoticed.
Who is most likely to get mpox?
According to UKHSA, mpox does not spread easily between people unless there is really close contact.
Close contact with an infected person can spread the virus, including skin-to-skin contact, inhalation, and contact with the eyes, nose, mouth, and genitalia.
According to Kanani, guys who are gay or bisexual, have several partners, or engage in group intercourse are all at a higher risk of contracting mpox because the majority of cases have been detected in men who have sex with men.
I mistook monkeypox for Covid I ve never been in so much pain
In 2022, a man with mpox and initially thought he had Covid before suffering from excruciating symptoms that made him fear for his life.
A 37-year-old charity worker named Harun Tulunay spent over two weeks in the hospital due to severe symptoms.
Early in June 2022, Harun, a London resident, began exhibiting flu-like symptoms, including chills, muscle aches, and a high temperature.
He told The Sun that, having just contracted COVID, he was certain he had contracted the virus once more. However, all of my tests were negative.
The charity worker claimed that the red and white rash he had a few days later was not at all like the images of monkeypox you see online and instead looked like an allergic response.
Only a few days later did he also discover a painless patch on his nose, which he thought was a pimple or a mosquito bite.
Harun is knowledgeable about monkeypox and its symptoms because he works in sexual health, but he didn’t believe he could have it because he had never seen the rash or spot that is linked to the illness.
Harun’s condition deteriorated a few days later when his fever rose to 40 degrees Celsius. He claimed that no amount of medicines could make the pain go away.
At this moment, Harun experienced an extremely sore throat and swollen tonsils.
“I was unable to speak, swallow, or breathe,” he stated.
I still clearly recall weeping in agony as I called the hospital.
At last, Harun was sent to the hospital and placed in isolation.
Lesions frequently linked to monkeypox only started to show up on his hands, legs, and feet after his test revealed he had the illness.
“My throat was covered,” he explained, referring to the larger and inflamed lesion on his nose.
He said, “I was afraid I would die in my hospital room by myself.” Never in my life had I experienced such agony.
He continued, “I remember crying when I saw a bottle of water because I couldn’t drink it.”
Harun is now completely recovered.
Healthcare professionals who treat patients with suspected or confirmed mpox are also more vulnerable.
If they contract mpox, older adults, small children, people with underlying medical conditions, and people on immune-suppressive medications are more likely to require hospitalization.
For those who are most likely to be exposed to mpox, the NHS is providing the smallpox (MVA) vaccine.
What should you do if you experience symptoms of mpox?
The only way to know if you have mpox or not is to phone a sexual health clinic so they can assess your exposure history and symptoms if you have any of the above symptoms.
Kanani suggested calling before visiting the clinic.
If you have a rash but have not recently traveled to west or central Africa or have not had intimate contact with someone who has or may have mpox, it is best to phone NHS 111.
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Until instructed otherwise, the NHS suggests that you remain at home and refrain from intimate contact with others, including sharing bedding or towels.
Describe your symptoms over the phone at your sexual health clinic. You could be instructed to isolate yourself at home if your symptoms are not severe.
Who can get the mpox vaccine?
The NHS is offering the smallpox (MVA) vaccine to people who are most likely to be exposed to mpox.
The following individuals are most likely to be exposed:
- Gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men (GBMSM)
- Some health workers that work on infectious disease inpatient units and sexual health services
- Some health and aid workers travel to affected countries to work within mpox response or sites with active outbreaks
- Close contacts of confirmed cases
The NHS mpox outbreak vaccination programme is currently only available in London and Greater Manchester, to people who live or travel to have sex there.
The vaccination is often administered in two doses to healthcare personnel.
Men who are gay, bisexual or have sex with other men will be offered 2 doses of the vaccine. The 2nd dose will be offered from 2 to 3 months after the 1st dose.
Your local NHS services will contact you when you can get your 2nd dose.
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