Both terms will be used for the next year as WHO phases out usage of monkeypox.
It can also spread via respiratory droplets, which dont travel far.
In this outbreak, the modes of transmission may be more complex.
Verywell Health / Julie Bang
In many of the recent cases, the symptoms present differently than in traditional mpox.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it might also spread via short-range aerosols.
Unlike the COVID-19 virus, mpox can linger for a long time outside the body.
This means it can infect people through exposure to contaminated items.
This includes clothing, bedding, electronics, and sex toys.
This is not equivalent to defining semen exposure as essential to transmission, Lipkin said.
The number of people who are infected is still low.
Thus, the chances of becoming infected in a public setting are also low.
Nonetheless, its prudent to minimize physical contact with people you dont know, he said.
Beware of Animal-to-Human Transmission
Mpox wasfirst discoveredin research monkeys in 1958.
Despite the name, several different mammals, including rodents and non-human primates can carry the virus.
In the U.S., the first case in a 2003 mpox outbreak came from a prairie dog bite.
There are no known cases of a human passing the virus to animals, though it may be possible.
Can Masks Stop the Spread of Mpox?
In June, the CDCrecommendedwearing a mask.
Lipkin said he would encourage people to wear a mask if they feel more comfortable with it.
Lingering Questions
Researchers are grappling with several questions about the current outbreak.
For instance, there is no evidence that mpox can be transmitted asymptomatically.
Plus, many of the current cases outside of Africa are relatively mild, and scientists arent sure why.
In the meantime, avoid close physical contact with others.
World Health Organization.Multi-country monkeypox outbreak: situation update.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Monkeypox: transmission.
doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01436-2
