[Question #10519] Mpox Question
 |
22 months ago
|
Hi, I am a gay married man. Recently, while at the gym in the steam room with a friend (someone I met at the gym, an older man, we are both swimmers), we were hanging out - even though the steam room was very hot we started messing around (all I did was rub his chest with both of my hands, his nipples and upper chest. I also rubbed his legs while he was seated). We did not hug or do anything more. I only did what I stated. He did NOT touch me at all. This all happened while we were in the steam room - so obviously we were both sweating. Since the incident I have not seen him in two weeks. My Question, could I have caught monkey pox from this incident? My second question, how soon would I know, its been 14 days since the incident, I have had no symptoms but I am very very worried. I think any bodily feelings I am having now is mainly due to the heavy stress and worry I am experiencing. Any thoughts. Thank you in advance for any feedback on this matter.
 |
H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
22 months ago
|
Welcome back. Thanks for your continued confidence in our services. Your previous question is slightly pertinent, because you asked about STI risks associated with quasi-sexual (non-penetrating) close contact.
---
Mpox (now the official terminology for monkeypox) is properly considered an STI, but a few infections (4-5%) have occurred in men who reported -- apparently reliably -- that they did not have anal or oral sex but only close body contact. Even these contacts, however, were genuinely intimate -- genital-genital or genital-anal contact, frontage, etc -- and usually in high risk settings like bath houses and saunas. However, by your description your contact really wasn't all that intimate and was inherently very low risk. Also remember that most people with mpox don't feel and look well; your steam room friend presumably was outwardly healthy, right?
In summary, while I cannot say this event was zero risk, it certainly was very low risk for mpox. Another important factor is that although mpox still is around, it's currently occurring at far lower frequency than at the recent epidemic peak a year ago. And in the large majority of cases, symptoms begin 1-2 weeks after exposure, so you're just about there. Playing it safe, CDC advises being on the alert up to 21 days (see the link below), but you can stay mellow in the meantime and for sure can sleep soundly after another week. (And by the way, you definitely don't need testing for any STI -- and there is no test for incubating mpox.)
I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
HHH, MD
------
|
H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
22 months ago
|
One more comment/advice: You can be vaccinated to prevent mpox, if you anticipate potential future exposures. Discuss with your doctor or your local public health department.---
|
22 months ago
|
Thank you for your response, this is very helpful. Yes, my friend did look very healthy during this incident. I think I am full of guilt so my mind jumps to "what ifs"! I should tell you, I am sorry I forgot this information, but yes - I got the mpox vaccine last year during the hype of the outbreak. Does this help with my worry at all. Should this make me less worried...
|
H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
22 months ago
|
One of the smallpox vaccines is used; the two viruses are in the same family and there is substantial cross protection. Preliminary data (see link below) indicate it is quite effective, and it definitely "should make [you] less worried." However, two doses are advised, 4 weeks apart; if you've only had one dose, I don't know if it would be recommended you have a second dose now or if it is preferable to start over. Other studies indicate not only substantial protection against infection, but reduced severity in those who acquire mpox despite being vaccinated.
---
|
22 months ago
|
Thanks again. Yes, I had both shots last summer 2022. So, I should not be as worried from this incident? Or less worried, I guess.
|
H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
22 months ago
|
Correct, definitely no worries from the steam room events.
That completes the two follow-up comments and replies included with each question and so ends this thread. Thanks for the thanks; I'm glad to have helped.
---