Please give us a call to discuss the Mpox vaccine. We have availability of the vaccine for a limited time.
More information is available from NHS Inform, Terrence Higgins Trust, and i-base.
What is Mpox?
Mpox is a viral infection. It is related to Smallpox but is not as severe. In the past, infections were seen in central or west Africa and only occasionally in the UK, usually in people who had travelled to Africa.
Since May 2022 some cases have been reported in the UK, Europe and other international countries. Most of the cases in Scotland and the UK (and across Europe) have been reported amongst gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM).
What illness does it cause?
Mpox is usually a mild self-limiting illness that causes painful skin lesions, with a high temperature and fever. A blistering rash usually starts 1 to 5 days after other symptoms – the rash may start on the face or in the genital area and may spread to other parts of the body.
We know that in the current outbreak of Mpox, some people have just a single spot or lesion. Some people have presented with inflammation of the rectum (pain and discharge from the anus – called proctitis), sometimes without any rash.
Why is it affecting GBMSM?
The UK has had one of the largest outbreaks. Most but not all of these cases are in GBMSM who have no link to Africa. Most of the cases seen so far in Scotland are in GBMSM.
It seems that the current cases are linked to GBMSM networks (socialising, apps, dating etc) and this means that numbers are currently higher in this group, even though not all cases are transmitted through sex and sexual contact. Having sex at sex parties, sex-on-premises venues (for example, saunas) or in darkrooms and cruising grounds carries a higher risk of Mpox infection.
Mpox (previously called Monkeypox) Update – Sept 24
Clade (type) I Mpox virus may be more severe and infectious than clade 2 Mpox (the type of Mpox we have seen in Scotland, mainly in GBMSM, over the last few years). Clade I Mpox virus has previously only been reported in five countries in Central Africa.
There is now an increased rate of clade I Mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and cases are also being reported from other surrounding countries in Central and East Africa.
As of the start of Sept 24 there has only been one case of Mpox Clade 1 in Europe which was in someone travelling back from Africa. There is no known spread of this virus within Europe.
Clade 2 mpox virus infections are not linked to this new strain of Mpox and are currently not seen to be increasing in the UK.
If you have a rash and fever and have been to East or Central Africa please contact us via phone or dial 111 prior to coming into any of our clinics. If there is a risk that you may have Clade 1 Mpox our services may not be the correct place for you to be seen and assessed.
We continue to offer routine Mpox vaccines to GBMSM – 2 doses a minimum of 28 days apart. Please contact us if you require vaccination or would like to discuss vaccination.
