The infection, caused by the fungusΒ Trichophyton mentagrophytesΒ type VIIΒ (TMvii), spreads through intimate contact and has predominantly been seen among men who have sex with men. It causes painful, coin-sized rashes on the arms, buttocks, trunk, legs, and genitals. While infections can be treated with oral antifungal medications, treatment can take several weeks, making fast detection of the uncommon infection critical.Β
βTMvii can resemble other skin conditions or sexually transmitted infections, so proper evaluation is important,β says Tom Carpino, Ph.D., the Hock postdoctoral research fellow at DGHI, who has studied the public health challenges of emerging STIs such as mpox. βThe lack of awareness among the highest risk individuals and communities, combined with the lack of wide-scale testing and reporting from clinics, are ingredients for a very serious epidemic to go under the radar.β

















