NORTHERN IRELAND — The Public Health Agency (PHA) confirmed 21 cases of Mpox in Northern Ireland over the past three weeks. The agency urged eligible individuals to get vaccinated against the virus.

Nine Mpox cases had been documented in Northern Ireland since 2023 before this recent increase. Symptoms can include blistering rashes, aches, fever, and swollen glands, and can persist for up to three weeks.

Dr. Rachel Coyle, Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA, said: "We want to remind those who are eligible to get vaccinated." Coyle stated: "Vaccination is available for those eligible in Northern Ireland through sexual health clinics, also known as genitourinary medicine or GUM clinics."

Coyle said: "While anyone can catch mpox, the majority of mpox cases in the UK are in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM)." She added: "Therefore, those eligible for the vaccine include gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men who have multiple sexual partners, and those who participate in group sex or attend sex on premises venues. Staff who work in these premises are also eligible." Coyle advised: "If you think you may be eligible and have not yet received your first dose or completed the course of two vaccines, contact your local GUM clinic and enquire about getting the vaccine."

Mpox is transmitted through close physical contact with the virus's rash, blisters, or scabs, and can occur during sexual activity or direct skin-to-skin contact. The virus can also spread via contaminated objects like bedding or towels, or through respiratory droplets from an infected person's coughs and sneezes.

According to the NHS, early symptoms include high temperature, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen glands, shivering, exhaustion, and joint pain. A distinctive rash typically appears one to five days after other symptoms begin, and it can affect any part of the body, including the hands, soles of the feet, mouth, or genitals. This rash starts as small raised spots that develop into ulcers or fluid-filled blisters, which then crust over and form scabs that eventually fall off.

In most instances, Mpox is a mild condition that resolves on its own within a few weeks without medical intervention. However, people experiencing symptoms can still transmit the virus. The elderly, young children, and individuals on immunosuppressive medication face a greater risk of developing severe complications.