How do you get monkeypox? An epidemiologist explains what “close contact” means

Monkeypox is caused by a virus that, despite periodic outbreaks, is not thought to spread easily from person to person and historically has not spurred long chains of transmission within communities. Now, many researchers are left scratching their heads as to why monkeypox seems to be propagating so readily and unconventionally in the current global outbreak.

How monkeypox spreads — The monkeypox virus typically spreads through direct contact with respiratory secretions, such as mucus or saliva, or skin lesions. Skin lesions traditionally appear soon after infection as a rash — small pimples or round papules on the face, hands, or genitalia. These lesions may also appear inside the mouth, eyes, and other parts of the body that produce mucus. They can last for several weeks and be a source of the virus before they are fully healed. Other symptoms usually include fever, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, and headache.

I am an epidemiologist who studies emerging infectious diseases that cause outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics. Understanding what’s currently known about how monkeypox is transmitted and ways to protect yourself and others from infection can help reduce the spread of the virus.

Why is this monkeypox outbreak different?

The current monkeypox epidemic is a bit unusual in a few ways.

First, the sheer scope of the current epidemic, with more than 25,000 cases worldwide as of early August and in countries where the virus has never appeared, sets it apart from previous outbreaks. Monkeypox is endemic to specific areas in Central and Western Africa, where cases occur sporadically, and outbreaks are usually contained and quickly burn out.

In the current outbreak, the global spread has been rapid. Young men, mostly ages 18 to 44, account for the majority of cases, and more than 97 percent identify as men who have sex with men. Some superspreading events associated with air travel, international gatherings, and multiple-partner sexual encounters contributed to the early transmission of the virus.

Second, the way symptoms appear may facilitate the spread among people who don’t yet know they are infected. Most patients reported mild symptoms without fever or swollen lymph nodes, symptoms that typically appear before a skin rash is visible. While most people develop skin lesions, many reported having only a single papule often obscured inside a mucosal area, such as the mouth, throat, or rectum, making it easier to miss.

Several people reported no symptoms at all. Asymptomatic infections are more likely to go undiagnosed and unreported than those with symptoms. But it is not yet known how asymptomatic individuals may be contributing to the spread or how many asymptomatic cases may be undetected so far.

Who is at risk of getting monkeypox?

For most people, the risk of getting monkeypox is currently low. Anyone who has prolonged, close contact with an infected person is at risk, including partners, parents, children, or siblings, among others. The most common settings for transmission are within households or health care settings.

Because of sustained transmission within the community of men who have sex with men, they are considered an at-risk group, and targeted recommendations can help allocate resources and limit transmission. While monkeypox is spreading primarily among this group of people, this does not mean that the virus will remain confined to this group or that it won’t jump to other social networks. The virus itself has no regard for age, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

Anyone who comes into direct contact with the monkeypox virus is at risk of infection. New cases are recorded daily, with additional countries and regions reporting their first cases and already affected countries observing a continued rise in infections.

As with most infections, other factors, such as the amount of viral exposure, type of contact, and individual immune response, play a role in whether infection takes hold.

Is monkeypox an STI?

While sexual encounters are one transmission mode among reported cases, monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection. STIs are spread primarily through sexual contact, while monkeypox can spread through any form of prolonged close contact.

Close contact that transmits the monkeypox virus involves encounters that are typically more intimate or involved than having a casual conversation or standing next to someone in an elevator. Transmission requires the exchange of mucosal fluids or direct contact with the virus in sufficient quantity to seed an infection. This could occur through physical contact during kissing or cuddling.

Because sexual encounters involve direct skin-to-skin physical contact where bodily fluids may be exchanged, these close encounters can transmit viruses more easily. Recently, monkeypox DNA has been detected in feces and various body fluids, including saliva, blood, semen, and urine. But the presence of viral DNA does not necessarily mean the virus can infect someone else. Transmission from these sources is still under investigation.

As the virus moves through populations, public health officials focus on getting the message out to the most at-risk and hardest hit communities about how to stay safe. Currently, breaking the transmission chain among sexual contacts is a priority, including but not limited to LBGTQ communities. Targeted messaging is meant to protect the health of a specific group, not to stigmatize the intended audience.

Other modes of transmission may play a greater role outside the LBGTQ community. Household transmission, where individuals may come into close contact with infected people or contaminated items, is one of the most common types of exposure. Research is ongoing into the potential airborne and respiratory droplet spread of monkeypox in the current situation.

Outbreaks are dynamic situations that evolve over time, which is why public health messages may change as the epidemic progresses. Not every outbreak looks or behaves the same way — even pathogens seen in previous outbreaks can be different the next time. As researchers learn more about how the disease is transmitted and identify changes in patterns of spread, public health officials will provide updates about specific forms of contact, behaviors, or other factors that could increase infection risk. While changing guidelines can be frustrating or confusing, keeping up to date with the latest recommendations can help you protect yourself and stay safe.

What do I do if I’ve been exposed to monkeypox?

Anyone who has been infected can help contain the spread by isolating themselves from others, including pets. Covering skin lesions, wearing a mask in shared spaces, and decontaminating shared surfaces or items, such as bed linens, dishes, clothes, or towels, can also reduce spread.

You can also help interrupt the transmission chain by participating in contact tracing and notifying public health officials of others who may have been exposed through you, which is a basic tenet and common practice of disease control.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has further guidance on how to control monkeypox spread in both household settings and shared living facilities.

Lastly, getting vaccinated as soon as possible can protect you from severe illness even if you’ve already been infected.

This article was originally published on The Conversation by Rebecca S.B. Fischer at Texas A&M University. Read the original article here.