LAHORE: The medical and public health experts say almost 90 to 99 per cent of people recover from mpox by themselves and the use of simple antipyretics or painkillers is enough.

According to them, the disease is self-limiting and people should not panic unnecessarily.

The virus can settle on fomites including used clothes, towels or even can stay on electronic equipment or other physical items contaminated with the mpox virus, therefore isolation is mandatory if the disease is diagnosed.

These views were expressed by General Cadre Doctor Association President Dr Masood Akhtar Sheikh and other senior medics while addressing a seminar in City Hospital.

Dr Sheikh said mpox can spread from person to person or occasionally from animal to person.

Talking about its symptomatology, Dr Munir Ghauri said initially, the patient has afever, headache, back pain and muscle pain, after which the lymph nodes of the body become swollen. He said a rash may appear on the face, palms, soles of the feet, or specific parts of the body that lasts for two to three weeks. The rash gradually turns into watery blisters that eventually dry out.

Dr Muhammad Shahbaz said until the watery blisters fall off and dry, this disease can be transmitted from one person to another.

Symptoms may worsen in newborns, young children and immunocompromised individuals. If precautions are not taken, pneumonia and eye problems are seen.

Dr Ghulam Farid said touching watery blisters or any such part where these blisters are present can cause the disease to be transmitted.

As long as there is no water in the blisters or new skin comes or there is inflammation and blisters in the eyes or any part of the body, then the disease can be transmitted from one to another.