Mpox Clade 1 - Update

Reducing transmission risk at your surgery 

Patients who report a recent travel history to affected countries and have some or all of the symptoms assoctiated with Mpox infection should be offered a telephone consultation in the first instance.

If the patient attends the surgery, the patient must be isolated in a room and the door kept shut. Attending staff should wear the following personal protective clothing; 

• FFP3 Mask
• long sleeved gown
• gloves 
• protective eyewear 

Staff who wear FFP3 masks should be fit tested on the type of being worn.

What are the symptoms? 

The symptoms of Mpox include; 

• A skin rash with blisters, spots or ulcers that can appear anywhere on your body (including your genitals) 
• Fever 
• Headaches, backache & muscle aches
• Joint pains
• swollen glands
• shivering (chills) & exhaustion 

A rash usually appears 1 to 5 days after a fever, headache and other symptoms.

The rash (spots, blisters or ulcers) often begins on the face, the speads to other parts of the body.

This can include the mouth, genitals and anus. The number of sores and range from one to to several thousand.

As of 22nd August 2024, the countries in central & East Africa where Clade I cases have been reported are; 

• DRC
• Republice of the Congo 
• Central African Republic 
• Burundi
• Rwanda 
• Uganda 
• Kenya 
• Cameroon
• Gabon

The countries where there may be a risk of Clade I Mpox exposure (based on sharing a border with the DRC) currently include; 

• Angola
• South Sudan 
• Tanzania 
• Zambia 

Published: Sep 2, 2024