Mpox spreads into a prison

Mpox, once known as monkeypox, has spread into another area – a prison.

The highly infectious viral disease was detected at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility in Iowa, authorities said on Tuesday.

‘We are actively managing the situation with robust health measures,’ the Iowa Department of Corrections’ chief of staff told Local 5.

‘Affected individuals are receiving care, and enhanced sanitation and isolation protocols are in place to prevent further spread.’

How many prisoners have been infected by mpox?

Exactly how many inmates were infected was not immediately known.

A department of corrections spokesperson said the type of mpox found in the facility was clade II.

Clade II is the mpox type that is endemic to West Africa and caused the global outbreak starting in 2022. It is ‘less severe’, with more than 99.9% of patients surviving, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

By contrast, clade I, endemic to Central Africa, has killed up to 10% of infected people.

What is mpox?

Mpox is caused by an infection of the Monkeypox virus, which is in the same family as the virus responsible for smallpox.

As a zoonotic disease, mpox can jump from animals to people.

Mpox has been found in mammals including small rodents and monkeys.

The Monkeypox virus was first recorded in 1958 in monkey colonies, but its origins have still not been determined.

What are mpox symptoms?

Mpox patients will often develop a rash that experiences various stages, including scabbing, before healing.

Other symptoms include fever, sore throat, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, headache and low energy.

Mpox can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, mouth-to-mouth contact and skin-to-mouth contact.

They can also be passed from a pregnant mother to a child.

Is there a cure for mpox?

‘Currently, there is no specific treatment approved for mpox,’ stated the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

‘However, there are several antiviral medications used to treat smallpox and other conditions that may help patients with mpox.’

There are vaccines to protect against mpox. Some of the vaccines were used to eradicate smallpox and have been approved to fight mpox.

The World Health Organization recommends the MVA-BN or LC16 vaccines.

Where has mpox spread?

Mpox has spread around the globe, with 99,518 cases in 122 locations as of August 6, according to the CDC.

Of the locations with mpox cases recorded, the majority, or 155, had not historically reported mpox. Those countries include the US, UK and all the European countries now affected.

Only seven nations had historically reported mpox, and they are all in central and western Africa.

The first monkeypox-related death in the US was reported in Texas in August 2022.

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