About Mpox

Mpox is a rare but serious virus that causes flu-like symptoms and rashes, sores, or lesions on an infected person’s body.

Mpox can be spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed.

The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks.

The mpox virus is in the same family as the smallpox virus, but it is not related to chicken pox.

Initial symptoms include flu-like symptoms, which include:

• Fever/Chills
• Headache
• Muscle aches and backache
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Exhaustion

A rash will eventually appear on the body. The rash may only be one area or may be bigger. It can appear anywhere on the body. It can be itchy and painful.

The rash may appear as pimples, sores, or small bumps. They will become fluid-filled pustules that scab over and fall off.

Not all mpox cases are the same. Some people will experience a rash or sores first and the flu-like symptoms after. Others may experience only a rash and sores. 

To see what mpox rashes look like, visit the CDC's web page here. Scroll to the bottom of the page.

Symptoms of mpox can begin one to four days after exposure but may take as long as three weeks to appear.

Mpox is only spread when a person has the symptoms of or is sick with monekypox. If a person does NOT have symptoms or is not sick with monkeypox, they cannot spread the virus to others.

Monkeypox can be spread in several different ways, including:

• Coming in direct contact with an infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids
• By respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact
• During intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex
• Pregnant people can spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta
• By touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids
• By being scratched or bitten by an animal infected with monkeypox
• By eating meat or using products from an infected animal

Monkeypox is not airborn.

Consider getting vaccinated, if you have been or are at a greater risk of being exposed and if the vaccine is available.

Wear a mask. Because mpox can be spread through respiratory droplets, wearing a mask in crowded areas is a good idea.

Avoid close contact, if possible. Consider avoiding enclosed spaces where close dancing, sweating, or intimate contact might occur. Bathhouses, gyms, and saunas may be a higher risk for monkeypox exposure.

Avoid skin-to-skin contact with new acquaintences, when possible. 

Disinfect (but don't dust!). Pox viruses can survive on all types of surfaces including linens, clothing, counters, and doorknobs for about 15 days or longer. They live best in cool, dark, and less humid environments. If an area has been exposed, use wet cleaning – not dusting – to disinfect surfaces.  Use an EPA-registered disinfectant on potentially contaminated surfaces. Launder clothes and linens with regular laundry detergent and water as soon as possible but do not ‘shake’ them out before washing. Shaking out contaminated fabric, like dry dusting contaminated surfaces, can spread the virus. 

Clean your hands. After disinfecting, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly and launder the clothes you were wearing. Use hand sanitizer while in public.

When properly administered before an exposure, vaccines are effective at protecting people against monkeypox. There are currently two FDA-licensed monkeypox vaccines in the United States - JYNNEOS and ACAM2000. 

JYNNEOS is effective. Unfortunately, there is a very, very low supply of this vaccine in the US. Supplies are being distributed to areas with larger outbreaks and to people who are at the greatest risk.

• JYNNEOS is usually a two-shot vaccine. A second shot of JYNNEOS several weeks after the first is often scheduled.
• But, it's good to know that one dose has been shown to build effective immunity, decreasing the risk of infection and reducing the risk of developing severe disease.
• Until more vaccine becomes available, some health departments in the country have chosen a strategy to only give out the first dose to have more vaccine for more people, rather than vaccinating less people but vaccinating them twice.

ACAM2000 is older and has more side effects. It is not recommended to be used in people who have certain health conditions, including weakened immune systems, eczema or pregnancy.

Vaccine production is currently being increased around the world. The shortage of JYNNEOS will hopefully be short-lived. 

You should see health care provider as soon as possible.

If you develop symptoms and a rash that you believe are consistent with monkeypox, isolate and seek medical attention right away.

Talk to your health care provider if you are concerned about monkeypox, especially if you recently had close contact with someone who had a rash or who has been diagnosed with mpox. 

First: know that most cases of monkeypox do not result in death.

The rash and the lesions can be painful, but are generally not debilitating. For most people, the pain can be managed with over-the-counter medications, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

As of this writing, no deaths attributed to this monkeypox outbreak have been reported in the US.

Second: if you think you have mpox or have been diagnosed with it, you need to isolate from other people until you are completely healed. This could be anywhere from two to four weeks.

You'll know you are healed when the rash's lesions dry, scab over, fall off, and new skin appears. Until then, you are at risk of spreading the virus to others. 

Pox is the term for any of several viruses that produce a rash of pimples that become pus-filled and may leave pockmarks on healing.

There are several viruses that are all different but create rashes that can look like mpox or chickenpox. Chickenpox and shingles are among the most prevalent.