Kajin Ṃajeḷ: chikinmelele.com/kojjela-mpox
Last summer I remembered hearing about some kind of monkeypox that could become the next pandemic. After a few weeks though it fell out of the news cycle. As it turned out, monkeypox was neither the next COVID or the next AIDS. It is not even primarily spread by monkeys, so the World Health Organization renamed it mpox. I learned this when I was reviewing the spelling for the translation of frequently asked questions about mpox distributed by the Oregon Health Authority – this and a lot more about this less deadly but rather unpleasant virus.
An outbreak of Mpox in 2022 appeared in 110 countries but the US accounted for more than a third of the global number of cases (a total of 29,913 cases). In early August of 2022, the US recorded a peak number of 600 cases a day. Antiviral drugs had not been federally authorized for the disease, testing was backed up, and vaccines were slow to arrive.
As the virus was mostly affecting gay and bisexual men at the time, the response of queer communities was influential in curbing the spread of the illness. In particular, mostly white gay and bisexual men who feel less marginalized than others in the larger population, took it upon themselves to reduce stigma, communicate symptoms, and seek vaccination and treatment. Right now, the current administration plans to withdraw the declaration of mpox as a public health emergency at the end of this month. This may leave some communities still at risk, particularly of the stigma associated with it as a sexually transmitted infection.
There are many possible ways the virus spread, other than sexual contact, during the recent outbreak. Mpox spreads through prolonged skin to skin contact and even contact with clothing and linens. So, someone who worked in housekeeping or health care could have reasonably needed a vaccination to protect against exposure through their work.
There are a few important things worth knowing about mpox. And, many thanks to those who work in translation for OHA making this information available in Marshallese. Continue reading in Marshallese.
Mpox is a virus related to smallpox that infects animals and is consisently present in the forested areas of Central and West Africa. The first human cases date back to 1970 but the virus was first discovered in monkeys in 1958. Despite its name, the primary carrier of the virus are actually rodents.
There are two strains of mpox. The more severe strain MPXV-1 has a fatality rate of 10%. The 2022 outbreak involved the milder strain MPXV-2. In the US, there were only 20 mpox-related deaths.
It is transmitted from person to person by direct contact with rashes, scabs, or bodily fluids. Mpox can also be spread by touching objects, fabrics, and surfaces in contact with the respiratory secretions, like saliva, of a person with mpox.
Symptoms include fever, chills, swollen galnds, and rashes. The rash which looks like pimples fills with fluid or pus. It takes 2-4 weeks for these scabs to heal over with fresh skin, and the virus is transmissible for the duration of symptoms.
Adults and children (but only children who have a history of scare tissue overgrowth) can receive an mpox vaccine called Jynneos. This is different from the smallpox vaccine though the illnessses are similar. States like Oregon will vaccinate people who have had close contact or are more likely to be in close contact with someone with mpox.
Like other vaccinations, this is a series of two shots given under the skin. Some side effects include some discomfort at the injection site.
More information about mpox can be found at the following websites.