Mpox
(Previously known as monkeypox disease WHO- new name November 2022)
Key facts WHO
- Mpox (monkeypox) is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus. Two different clades exist: clade I and clade II
- Common symptoms of mpox are a skin rash or mucosal lesions which can last 2–4 weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
- Mpox can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with someone who is infectious, with contaminated materials, or with infected animals.
- Laboratory confirmation of mpox is done by testing skin lesion material by PCR. More information on diagnostic testing can be found here
- Mpox is treated with supportive care. Vaccines and therapeutics developed for smallpox and approved for use in some countries can be used for mpox in some circumstances.
- In 2022–2023 a global outbreak of mpox was caused by a strain known as clade IIb.
- Mpox can be prevented by avoiding physical contact with someone who has mpox. Vaccination can help prevent infection for people at risk.
Mpox designated a notifiable disease
Legislation was laid on 7 June 2022 which made mpox a notifiable infectious disease under the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations 2010 from 8 June 2022. This means all doctors in England are required to notify their local council or local Health Protection Team (HPT) if they suspect a patient has mpox. Laboratories must also notify the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) if the mpox virus is identified in a laboratory sample.
WHATS NEW
Latest guidance Update – 19 March 2025: The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens recently assessed evidence gathered by the UK Health Security Agency for clade I mpox and advised that it no longer met the criteria of a high consequence infectious disease (HCID). Therefore, the chief medical officers of the 4 nations have agreed that mpox will no longer be managed as a HCID within healthcare settings. Further information is available on the gov.uk website.
MPOX action pathway for primary care
The guidance also contains NHS England » Clade I mpox (MPXV) pathway actions: patients self-presenting in general practice, where you will find a link to download this in a PDF format, as seen below:
Preparedness actions
Providers to ensure that all clinical services are aware of the public health messaging and that a differential diagnosis of Clade I mpox should be considered in any patient that meets the operational case definition.
- Providers should review current infection prevention and control (IPC) plans, PPE availability, waste management and staff training to ensure that arrangements are in place to safely assess and treat patients presenting with suspected mpox – this should include identifying a suitable room and access and egress arrangements.
- Providers should review existing plans and clinical pathways ensuring that staff are aware of the arrangements for isolation, clinical management, specialist infection advice, PPE and associated infection control measures.
More information on Infection Prevention and Control can be found here- Infection Prevention and Control in General Practice – Wessex LMCs
Historic resources
UKHSA Letter from previous 2022 outbreak
Mpox Clade 1 – Primary care update 12th November 2024 – With special thanks to Connie Timmins and Jennifer Bennett- Britton (IPC leads from BSW ICB) for sharing the above resource.
Useful resources
Smallpox and mpox: the green book, chapter 29 – GOV.UK
Protecting you from monkeypox– Information on the 2022 smallpox vaccination programme