He ‘wasn’t able to move or drink or eat anymore’ by the time he was admitted to hospital with mpox
An mpox patient has described some of the “horrendous symptoms” he suffered after contracting the virus in 2022.
In recent days, fears have grown about a global outbreak of a new strain of the viral disease. The clade 1b strain was first detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo – where at least 450 people have died from the virus – and cases have since been confirmed in Sweden and Pakistan.
Last week, the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak a global health emergency, and some experts have warned it is “very likely” the new variant of the disease has already reached the UK.
Common symptoms of mpox include a skin rash or pus-filled lesions which can last two to four weeks, according to the UKHSA.
It also can cause fever, headaches, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.
The disease spreads through close contact with someone who is infected, such as through sex, skin-to-skin contact, and talking or breathing within close proximity to someone who has the virus.
In July 2022, a multi-country outbreak of mpox was declared a public health emergency as it spread rapidly across a range of countries where the virus had not been seen before.
Harun Tulunay was one of those who contracted the virus during this outbreak, and he has recalled some of the “horrendous symptoms” he suffered.
Speaking to Sky News, Tulunay said the virus started with flu-like symptoms such as high fever and muscle aches, before lesions and scars started to appear.
Despite his symptoms, he said he wasn’t taken seriously by health professionals due to a lack of awareness about mpox.
He said his pleas for an ambulance were initially denied and he was misdiagnosed four times.
It was only after “two weeks of horrendous high fever and pain” and when he “wasn’t able to move or drink or eat anymore” that he was eventually hospitalised.
Even after this, it still took three days for doctors to give him the correct diagnosis.
“After 11 days in hospital I felt better and I further isolated for two weeks at home until all the scars disappeared and I was fully healed,” he said.
Today, the only scar that remains is a small one on his nose, and he is free from the virus.
A two-dose vaccine has been developed to protect against the virus, which is widely available in Western countries but not in Africa, where it is most prominent.
Tulunay has been vaccinated against future strains, but is calling for the vaccine to be more widely rolled out in Africa and to higher risk groups such as sex workers and health workers.
In a statement shared with JOE, Tulunay said: “As we’ve seen with many viral infections, mpox has evolved, and a new strain has emerged. Just like the flu virus, mpox continues to adapt and change. Two years ago, the virus spread rapidly, and unfortunately, precautionary measures were implemented too late. While the WHO has responded more swiftly this year, it’s crucial for us to reflect on the actions taken since 2022.
“As a community, we’ve been advocating for the government and UKHSA to establish a permanent #mpox vaccination program, given that research indicates the vaccine offers some level of protection. However, rather than embracing this preventive measure, the government has allowed the issue to slip by without taking action. We still lack a vaccination program, and if we want to stay ahead of the virus before it spreads further, we need to initiate vaccinations for target groups as soon as possible.”
He continued: “I experienced a severe case of mpox, despite being in good health with a strong immune system, and the reasons for its severity remain unknown. To protect the most vulnerable among us, we must act now, as we can’t predict who might suffer severely in the next wave. Meanwhile, ongoing cuts to sexual health funding since 2022 have further strained our services, and if another mpox outbreak occurs, it’s unclear how our sexual health services will cope.
“We must learn from the past and act proactively, rather than reacting only when crises arise. It has become a habit for UK authorities to address issues only when they become critical, and this approach is not sustainable.”
“We need to see the bigger picture and ensure that all prevention and treatment methods are in place before another outbreak occurs,” he concluded.
Scientists from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention say they need more than 10 million vaccines but there are currently only 200,000 available.
According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mpox was first identified in laboratory monkeys and was previously known as monkeypox.
In 2022 it was renamed by the WHO after receiving complaints that the original name was ‘racist and stigmatising’.
Anyone can get mpox, the NHS says. It can be passed through people by any close physical contact with mpox blisters or scabs (including during sexual contact, kissing, cuddling or holding hands).
Other avenues of transmission include touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with mpox, and the coughs or sneezes of a person with mpox when they’re close to you.
Most patients who have intact immune systems and don’t have a skin disease, supportive care and pain control will help them recover without medical treatment, according to the CDC.
