Monkeypox: symptoms, modes of transmission, mortality rate… everything you need to know about the Monkeypox virus

Due to the rapid spread of monkeypox on the African continent, the WHO triggered the highest level of alert at the international level on Wednesday, August 14.

The WHO made the same decision in July 2022, when a monkeypox epidemic spread across the world, before lifting it in May 2023.

What modes of transmission ?

The Monkeypox virus can be transmitted from animals to humans but also, in cases observed in France in the past, from one human being to another, according to l’ARS. The virus can enter the body through a lesion of the skin, even an invisible one, the respiratory tract or through the mucous membranes.

Transmission between humans can occur "by direct contact" with the skin lesions or mucous membranes of a sick person and/or through droplets (saliva, sneezing, spit, etc.).

Transmission can occur through "indirect contact" with the patient's environment (bedding, clothing, dishes, bath linen, etc.).

While infection with the virus is not considered an STI, direct contact with damaged skin during sexual intercourse facilitates its transmission.

What symptoms ?

Clade 1b causes rashes all over the body, while previous strains were characterized by localized rashes and lesions on the mouth, face, or genitals.

These rashes go through different stages; papules (small solid pimples), fluid-filled vesicles, then pustules (filled with purulent fluid) that develop into dryness. Scabs then form that will heal in the future. Itching may occur in particular.

Patients must isolate themselves until the last scabs have disappeared (approximately 3 weeks).

This rash may be accompanied by fever, headache, body aches and weakness. In addition, lymph nodes may be swollen and painful, under the jaw, in the neck or in the groin. Sore throat has also been reported.

What is the mortality rate ?

According to the Ministry of Health, the incubation period can range from 5 to 21 days and the fever phase lasts approximately 1 to 3 days. “The disease usually heals spontaneously, after 2 to 3 weeks but sometimes 4 weeks”, indicates the website of the Ministry of Health.

Mpox was first discovered in humans in 1970 in what is now the DRC (formerly Zaire), with the spread of the Clade I subtype (of which the new variant is a mutation), mainly limited since then to countries in western and central Africa, with patients generally being contaminated by infected animals.

The current epidemic, which started in the DRC and is currently confined to Africa, has its specificities. Caused by clade 1 and an even more dangerous variant, the virus is more contagious and dangerous. Although its mortality rate is estimated at only 3.6%, this new variant is still more dangerous. In Congo, 11,000 people have been infected and 500 have died.