A sexual health worker shares his experience of Monkeypox: “I felt alone and the pain was unbearable”

In the past few weeks, several new cases of monkeypox have been reported in different parts of the world. France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom have reported some of the highest number of cases.

Monkeypox is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. The symptoms of this disease are similar to smallpox symptoms. Monkeypox is rarely fatal, however, the infection can be very painful. Usually, monkeypox is considered mild and some people can recover within weeks without any necessary treatment. But the disease can also cause severe complications, and the patient can feel extremely uncomfortable and in pain. Such was the case with Harun Tulunay, a sexual health worker in North London, who shared his first-hand experience of monkeypox with World Health Organisation (WHO) to spread awareness about the disease.

On 11 June 2022, 35-year-old Harun fell ill with fever. His lymph nodes felt painful, itchy and swollen. His fever shot up to 39.6 °C (103.28°F). He was also shivering. “On day 5, I just lay on the sofa, unable to move, unable to sleep. I felt alone and the pain was unbearable,” Harun shares.

Harun added that it started with one blister on his nose which was the size of the tip of a pen, but later it got bigger and more painful. “Due to the lesions in my throat, I couldn’t swallow, eat or drink. That was painful. The level of pain surprised me. I also realized how alone I was. I couldn’t have friends or family visit me. I thought that if I died from this disease, I’d die alone,” Harun says.

After getting admitted in a hospital, Harun was treated for 10 days with tecovirimat, an antiviral agent developed for smallpox which is now licensed for monkeypox by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). "I was on heavy pain killers, on antibiotics because of a secondary bacterial infection, and being fed through an intravenous drip. All I wanted was for the pain to go away,” Harun explains his condition.

Since the monkeypox outbreak is relatively new and not a lot is known about the sources of infection and transmission patterns, getting infected can also take a serious toll one one’s mental health. Harun also felt stressed due to the uncertainty around the disease. “Even now, talking about the scars monkeypox could leave makes me emotional. I don’t want to carry scars reminding me of this horrible month.”

Read more: Simple yoga asanas to help release gas (to fart)

Raising awareness is the main prevention strategy for monkeypox at present. Contact tracing and isolation are the primary measures to control the outbreak. If anyone has been confirmed with monkeypox, it is important that they disclose it to their contacts to alert them to monitor symptoms such as rashes, fever and muscle aches.

Monkeypox can spread in different ways. It can spread from direct contact with the infectious rash. Respiratory secretions during face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact can also transmit the infection. Touching items previously touched by the infectious person can also spread monkeypox. It is currently unclear whether monkeypox can be transmitted through sexual transmission routes such as semen or vaginal fluid.

Read more: Diabetes symptoms: The sign of nerve damage that often strikes at night

Scientific studies are underway to assess vaccination for monkeypox prevention and control. Some countries have taken measures to offer vaccines to health care professionals who are at risk of contracting the disease. In the US, two vaccines – JYNNEOS (also known as Imvamune or Imvanex) and ACAM2000 – licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are available for preventing monkeypox infection.