What's Happening
- Mpox Information: Mpox is caused by a virus that leads to a distinctive rash and can sometimes cause severe disease.
- Recent Outbreak: Since November 2023, there’s been a large increase in mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This surge is different from the global outbreak that started in 2022 and spread to the United States.
- Mpox virus, which usually spreads from animals to humans, is now spreading more easily between people, especially within households and through sexual contact.
- In some areas of Africa, this new surge is also causing more severe illness and affecting more children than prior surges.
- Spread to Other Regions: Between January 2023 and August 2024, more than 25,000 cases and more than 1,000 deaths have been reported in Africa. Mpox cases have spread beyond the DRC to more than a dozen other African countries. Cases in travelers have been reported in Sweden and Thailand but have not yet spread in those countries. As of August 2024, there have been no cases of mpox in the US related to this recent outbreak.
- High Impact on Kids in Africa: More than half of the mpox cases in Africa are in children, and hundreds of children have died from mpox this year in the DRC alone.
How worried should I be right now about mpox and children in the United States?
- The risk to children in child care centers, schools, and the general community is very low in the US at this time.
- Children are at higher risk if they live in the same household as a person with mpox.
- Children traveling internationally to areas with mpox may be at higher risk and can reduce risk by avoiding animal exposure and avoiding direct contact with or staying in the same home as someone with mpox.
How does mpox spread?
Mpox can spread in many ways, including:
- Most common ways children and adolescents get mpox
- Animal Contact: Getting the virus from an infected animal, which would only be expected to occur in areas outside of the US where mpox is commonly seen.
- Direct Contact: Touching infected skin or body fluids, which is more likely to occur among household contacts. Adolescents are at higher risk from direct contact occurring during sexual activity with someone with mpox.
- Less common ways children and adolescents get mpox
- Contaminated Objects: Touching items or surfaces that have the virus on them.
- Close Contact: Being near someone who is infected, especially for a long time.
- Rare Cases: It can also spread from mother to child during pregnancy or through close contact while breastfeeding.
Symptoms to Watch For
- Classic Signs: The most common sign is a distinct rash that progresses to fluid-filled (vesicular or pustular) bumps. The rash may be preceded by fever, chills, muscle aches, feeling tired, or swollen lymph nodes.
- Different Symptoms: In milder cases of mpox, symptoms can be less serious or different, like a small rash that doesn’t spread much or having little to no fever.
Getting Diagnosed
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- Testing: If mpox is suspected, doctors will usually test for the mpox virus by swabbing a skin lesion. Results typically come back in a few days. It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider if you think your child might have been exposed.
Treatment
- Care at Home: Most treatment focuses on keeping your child comfortable—making sure they stay hydrated, treating pain with over-the-counter pain medicine. If complications develop, children may require treatment in the hospital.
- Antiviral Medicine: In more severe cases, doctors might use a medicine called tecovirimat. It’s safe for both adults and children, though it requires careful monitoring in young children.
Vaccination
- High-Risk Groups: Right now, mpox vaccine is mainly for people who are at high risk and is given as two shots 4 weeks apart. For kids and teens younger than 18 years, the vaccine can be given after being exposed to mpox, preferably within two weeks after exposure.
Mpox (Monkeypox) Resources for the Public
- World Health Organization (WHO) – Mpox (Monkeypox) Fact Sheet
A comprehensive overview of mpox, including symptoms, transmission, prevention, and treatment.
WHO Mpox (Monkeypox) Fact Sheet - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Mpox (Monkeypox) Information
Information on mpox symptoms, transmission, prevention, and vaccination.
CDC Mpox Information - Mayo Clinic – Monkeypox (Mpox) Overview
Overview An overview of mpox, including symptoms, causes, and prevention, tailored for patients and the general public.
Mayo Clinic Mpox (Monkeypox) Overview
