UNISON activists are being urged to start discussions with employers to make sure that actions put in place following an Mpox outbreak in 2022 remain in place to protect staff and the public.
Mpox is caused by a virus in the same family of viruses as smallpox, although it is much less severe. It is a rare infection.
UNISON has produced a guide for branches so that they can discuss Mpox with employers to ensure that appropriate support in terms of guidance for staff, appropriate PPE provision and full sick pay can be put in place so anyone that contracts Mpox does not suffer financial detriment.
Currently there have been no cases of the new Mpox strain identified in the UK, with the UKHSA saying the overall risk is considered as low at this time.
However, there may be many workers who are concerned about the potential spread of the virus, and whose health is potentially at risk.
Anyone who comes into close contact with someone who has Mpox could potentially get the virus. Mpox spreads through close, skin-to-skin contact and also when someone touches fabrics – such as clothing, bedding, or towels – that have been used by someone with the virus, or from the coughs or sneezes of a person with Mpox when they’re close.
Donna Rowe-Merriman, UNISON national secretary for business, community environment, added: “Employers are urged to take action now to ensure all appropriate measures are in place to protect staff and the public across a wide range of sectors to prevent any future cases from spreading.
“UNISON’s bargaining guide delivers clarity to enable members to work safely.”
The first symptoms of Mpox include:
- a high temperature
- a headache
- muscle aches
- backache
- swollen glands
- shivering (chills)
- exhaustion
- joint pain
A rash usually appears one to five days after the first symptoms. The rash often begins on the face, then spreads to other parts of the body.
