Ministry releases guide amid growing mpox outbreak

Türkiye's Health Ministry has released a comprehensive 24-page guide on mpox, which has recently surged in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and has become a global threat.

The guide includes contributions from various experts and aims to educate the public and health professionals on the nature of the disease, its transmission routes and preventive measures.

The DRC has become the epicenter of the mpox outbreak, with over 16,000 cases reported this year and more than 500 deaths.

The outbreak, driven by the more deadly and transmissible clade 1b strain of the virus, has prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to issue its highest level of international alert.

Mpox can spread from animals to humans and between humans through close physical contact, including sexual contact.

The guide details the symptoms of the disease, which include fever, fatigue, headache, rash and swollen lymph nodes. While the symptoms typically last between two and four weeks and are self-limiting, severe cases can occur, particularly in infants and children.

The guide said while mpox shares some similarities with smallpox, it is less contagious and generally milder.

However, vaccines used against smallpox do offer some protection against mpox, and antiviral agents developed for smallpox are also used in mpox treatment.

The WHO has called on vaccine manufacturers to increase production to control the spread of the virus and has urged countries with vaccine stockpiles to donate them to affected regions.

The ministry's guide highlights the importance of providing clinical care and supportive treatment to manage symptoms and prevent complications.

It also notes that hot water baths and painkillers may be used to...