Common Mpox Myths
At Springfield Pharmacy, we believe it’s important to dispel the stigma surrounding mpox. The following are myths that you shouldn’t believe. This information has been provided by www.mdanderson.org.
1. Myth: Mpox is a new disease.
Fact: Mpox was first identified in monkeys in 1958 and the first case in humans was recorded in the 1970s. First cases appeared in the U.S. in 2003.
2. Myth: You can get mpox from being in a crowd or swimming pool.
Fact: Mpox cannot be spread through water, nor does it linger in the air. Mpox is transmitted through close, direct contact with lesions, contact with a contaminated item (such as towels, clothing, bedding, etc.), and saliva or large respiratory droplets. This means that if you are in a crowded space with prolonged person-to-person contact, your risk of contracting mpox from an infected individual increases.
3. Myth: Mpox is deadly.
Fact: Although the mpox virus is related to smallpox, mpox is rarely fatal. The number of deaths attributable to mpox from the 2022 outbreak is still in the single digits worldwide, and no deaths have occurred in the U.S.
However, symptoms can be unpleasant and severe in some patients, so it’s important to protect yourself from contracting mpox.
4. Myth: Mpox is a sexually transmitted disease.
Fact: Person-to-person transmission of mpox is through close, direct contact with the lesions, rash, scabs or certain bodily fluids of someone who has mpox. This description could certainly apply to sexual activity, but exposure can also occur when people share a household or are in close physical proximity. While mpox can be transmitted during sex, it does not only require sexual intercourse to be transmitted.
5. Myth: Only gay and bisexual men can get mpox.
Fact: ANYONE can get mpox. To date, mpox has disproportionately affected the LGBTQ+ community, but it can affect anyone who is unvaccinated, regardless of sexual orientation or partners.
This myth is stigmatizing the LGBTQ+ community and implies that people who are not a part of this community do not have to care about mpox, which is dangerous misinformation.
6. Myth: The mpox vaccine is new.
Fact: Jynneos, also known as imvanex/imvamune, was approved for the prevention of both smallpox and mpox in 2019.