Mpox (monkeypox)

Mpox (monkeypox) is the disease which results from infection by Mpox (monkeypox) virus. Mpox (monkeypox) is a zoonotic disease meaning that the virus has the potential to spread between animals and humans.

Mpox is endemic in certain countries within Africa, meaning that the disease occurs regularly within an area or community. Since May 2022, cases of disease have been reported in countries where the disease is not endemic, and therefore would not have been expected to occur. Such cases of Mpox reported in Europe and North America occurred in people who had a history of travel to an area where they may have become exposed to the infection.

Two distinct clades (groups of similar viruses based on their genetic sequences) of the monkeypox virus have been identified: Clade I (previously known as the Congo Basin (central African) clade and Clade II (the former west African clade). The two distinct clades of the virus each have two distinct subclades; clade I (with subclades Ia and Ib) and clade II (with subclades IIa and IIb).

In August 2024, the upsurge in cases of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing number of countries in Africa caused by clade 1b was declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to be a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is collaborating with health authorities to prevent further spread of mpox. The WHO is conducting disease surveillance, issuing guidance on infection prevention and control, and engaging with at risk communities by providing clinical care and information about the risks of contracting mpox.

Collaboration between public health and animal health authorities is important to reduce all transmission risks.

Yes.

Mpox is a zoonosis (a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans), with cases often found close to tropical rainforests where there are animals that carry the mpox virus. Mpox (monkeypox) virus is endemic (meaning that the disease occurs regularly within an area or community) in western and central Africa (the Congo Basin). The virus circulates in wild animals hosts and from time to time affects humans.

The disease can also spread from humans to humans. It can be transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, lesions on the skin or on internal mucosal surfaces, such as in the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets and contaminated objects.

Isolated human cases have been known to occur in other countries, usually due to travel.

In February 2025, the HSE reported one imported case of Clade I mpox in an Irish resident who had recently returned to Ireland following travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo where mpox is circulating in the community.

The risk to the Irish public remains low.

The full host range of the mpox (monkeypox) virus is uncertain. Mpox virus can infect a wide range of mammal species, including monkeys, anteaters, hedgehogs, prairie dogs, squirrels, shrews and other small mammals.

There is uncertainty as to whether reptiles, amphibians, or birds can get infected with mpox, however it is unlikely since these animals have not been found to be infected with other orthopoxviruses.

There is also a possibility that pets (dogs and cats) could become infected with mpox virus.

In areas where mpox is endemic in animals, the virus that causes mpox is thought to be maintained in nature through circulation among a number of susceptible mammals, namely wild rodents (including squirrels and rats), with occasional spill-over to non-human primates and humans.

As of July 2024, no cases of Mpox infection or disease had been confirmed in domestic animals, during the current global outbreak or any past outbreaks.

Although a small number of dogs globally have been suspected of being infected with mpox, further testing was unable to confirm this. The possibility remains that initial positive laboratory results were due to environmental contamination of the animals with mpox virus rather than true infection. No dogs in Ireland have been suspected of being infected with mpox.

Mpox (monkeypox) viruses originate in animals. The virus has been found in skin lesions (rash, scabs, crusts, fluids) and many bodily fluids of animals (urine, faeces, saliva, nasal secretions and discharge from the eyes).

Mpox is a zoonotic disease (animal to human transmission), with a possibility also of reverse zoonosis (human to animal transmission) to susceptible animals.

To avoid human to animal transmission, people suspected or confirmed to have mpox should avoid close contact with animals, including pets, livestock, and wildlife. People should be particularly vigilant around animals known to be susceptible, such as rodents and non-human primates. Likely routes of spread from humans to animals include inhalation, contact with breaks in the skin or by eating infecting material. Skin scabs shed during the recovery phase have been found to contain significant amounts of infectious virus.

Mpox is a zoonotic disease (animal to human transmission).

In endemic areas (meaning that the disease occurs regularly within an area or community), humans can become infected through bites from infected animals, in aerosols during close contact, by direct contact with lesions, blood or bodily fluids. Mpox is not endemic in Ireland. Good hygiene practices when interacting with wildlife, is important to reduce animal to human transmission.

Current outbreaks of mpox in humans outside of areas where the virus is known to be endemic in animals appear to be driven by travel and human-to-human transmission. The disease can also spread from humans to humans. It can be transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, lesions on the skin or on internal mucosal surfaces, such as in the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets and contaminated objects.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH-founded as OIE) highlights that unregulated trade in wildlife (including wildlife meat and products) and other mammals can lead to the international spread of diseases such as mpox.

Reported incubation periods (which is the time from when the animal has become infected to the time they start showing signs of disease) range from 3 days to 2 weeks in most cases.

Clinical signs of disease can be non-specific, but may include the following:

• Skin lesions which eventually scab over

• Fever

• Depression/lethargy

• Reduced appetite

• Respiratory signs e.g. discharge from the nose, sneezing, coughing

• Mouth ulcers

• Discharge from the eyes or reddening of the eyes

• Not all animals have a rash when they have mpox.

Generally, Mpox (monkeypox) infection in pets is expected to be mild, self-limiting and non-fatal and would likely not require treatment. However supportive veterinary treatment may be required for management of clinical signs. In such incidences, please contact your veterinary practitioner. Separate the sick animal from other pets and animals to reduce the risk of disease transmission.

Under S.I. No. 130/2016 - Notification and Control of Diseases affecting Terrestrial Animals (No. 2) Regulations 2016. mpox (monkeypox) is classified as a part C disease. This means that an mpox case should be notified to the Department, however there are no restrictions put in place on an infected animal. As mpox is a zoonotic disease, any confirmed cases with close animal to human contact, will be notified to public health colleagues who may need to issue public health advice.

Please consult our Frequently Asked Questions document regarding Mpox (monkeypox) for animal owners.

To prevent transmission to other humans and animals, you must:

• Avoid close contact with your pet(s). It is important that you avoid handling your pet.

• Hygiene precautions should be taken when preparing your pet’s food, bedding or litter.

• Keep your pet(s) indoors away from other humans and animals:

• Pets such as dogs may be brought outside for toileting purposes, if you have an outside enclosed space which is securely fenced.

• Animal faeces should be hygienically removed from the environment.

• People who are at increased risk for severe mpox should not care for animals that had close contact with a person with mpox. This includes:

o People with weakened immune systems

o Pregnant people

o Young children

o People with a history of atopic dermatitis or eczema

Information on Mpox (monkeypox)is subject to change as further information becomes available. The following websites provide additional information on Mpox (monkeypox)virus and are frequently updated:

• HSE

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/monkeypox/

• HPSC

https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/zoonotic/monkeypox/

• World Health Organisation

Mpox (monkeypox) (who.int)

• EFSA

https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/news/monkeypox-ecdc-publishes-rapid-risk-assessment

• OIE

https://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/Mpox (monkeypox).pdf

• WOAH

MPox - WOAH - World Organisation for Animal Health

• CDC

Mpox in Animals and Pets/Mpox/Poxvirus/CDC