Lupus and Monkeypox

[HantsMan]

Hi all,

I thought I'd ask as this is very topical at the moment, especially for the immunosuppressed.

Does anyone have any comments on this?

[SLS2103]

I think I'm a bit of an ostrich about it and pretend it's not out there, because otherwise the fear would be overwhelming. However, there doesn't seem to be much chatter about it on the lupus websites...

[JenniferW]

You have to try quite hard to catch monkeypox if you don't live in (I think) West Africa. It can be passed on from monkeys and rats, I remember reading about a man in Nigeria who caught it from a rat bite. Outside this area it is passed on between humans by extended skin to skin contact (not a quick brush against someone on the train). For example there was a toddler who caught it from his father because small children need washing and carrying. Usual human behaviour is not to have extended skin contact with people outside their close social group, aside from e.g. health professionals. Also skin lesions develop after a few days, making it obvious to the sufferer, so there is a short timeline where they can unknowingly pass it on.

[HantsMan]

I see why you've responded in that it's difficult to catch etc., however there have now been over 60,000 outside of Africa, as monkeypox found a route to escape.

I'm wasn't trying to scare anyone as yes Lupus itself is let's say rare and monkeypox is nowhere near as easy to catch unlike covid. But I do have an interest in asking if anyone has had an experience of catching monkeypox whilst having lupus and if lupus helped fend off the virus or enabled a bad infection of monkeypox.

But yes although a very valuable site, it's going to be just a few unlucky people on here that suffer that.

I just wanted to have a reference for those that catch it to be informative for them. Thanks