About Mpox

Last updated 6/14/2024.

Introduction

Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is a disease caused by infection with Monkeypox virus. This virus is part of the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. Mpox is not related to chickenpox.

Mpox is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be spread between animals and people. It is found regularly in parts of Central and West Africa. Since spring 2022, there has been an increase in mpox cases in many other parts of the world, including California. Currently, the risk of getting mpox is low for the public.

See below, or click the following links, to learn more about:

Prevention
Transmission (spread)
Symptoms
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources

Prevention

Protect yourself from getting mpox.

Get vaccinated.

Getting two (2) doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine, at least 4 weeks apart, provides the best protection.
If you previously recovered from mpox, you do not need the vaccine.

Lower your risk of mpox during sex or at a social gathering.

If you are at risk for mpox but have not received your 2-dose vaccine yet, consider temporarily changing activities that involve closer personal contact, such as sex.
A rave, party, or club where there is minimal clothing and where there is direct, skin-to-skin contact has some risk. Avoid any rash you see on others and consider minimizing skin-to-skin contact.

Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like mpox and animals that carry the monkeypox virus.

The rash might appear on the hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth, and other areas on the genitals. Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with mpox.
Do not kiss, hug, cuddle, or have sex with someone who may have mpox.
In areas where mpox is found regularly (particularly in Central or West Africa), avoid contact with animals that can carry the monkeypox virus, such as rodents and primates.

Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with mpox has used.

Do not share utensils or cups with a person who may have mpox.
Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person who may have mpox. Avoid contact with infected materials contaminated with the virus.
If you, or someone you live with, has mpox, follow steps for Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Home. Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), like a mask, gown, and gloves, when caring for others with symptoms.

Wash your hands often.

Use soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, before eating or touching your face and after you use the bathroom.

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Transmission (Spread)

Mpox can be spread through:

Close contact with a person with mpox, including:
- Direct skin-to-skin contact with mpox rash or scabs from a person with mpox.
- Contact with saliva, upper respiratory secretions (snot, mucus), and bodily fluids or lesions around the genitals from a person with mpox.
- Pregnant people with mpox can pass the virus to the fetus during pregnancy, or to the newborn during and after birth.
- Direct contact can happen during intimate contact, including sex, touching the genitals, hugging, massage, kissing, and prolonged face-to-face interactions (such as talking or breathing).
Contact with objects, fabrics, and surfaces that have not been disinfected after use by someone with mpox.
- This includes items like clothing, bedding, towels, fetish gear, or sex toys.
Direct contact with infected wild animals, including:
- Direct close contact with an infected animal or their fluids, or waste (poop), as well as getting bitten or scratched by an infected animal.
- During activities like hunting, trapping, or processing infected wild animals in areas where mpox is regularly found.
- Though less likely, it is possible to get mpox from a pet. Close contact with a pet that is infected, including petting, cuddling, hugging, kissing, licking, and sharing sleeping spaces or food can spread mpox to a person.

A person can spread mpox from:

The time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed, and/or
1 to 4 days before symptoms.

Currently, there is no evidence suggesting that people who never have symptoms can spread the virus to someone else. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is monitoring the latest information about how mpox spreads.

If you think you have the mpox rash and want to get tested or have any health concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. If you do not have a healthcare provider, call 2-1-1 San Diego for information.

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Symptoms

People with mpox often get a rash that may be located on hands, feet, chest, face, mouth, or near the genitals.

The incubation period is 3-17 days. During this time, a person does not have symptoms, may feel fine, and cannot spread mpox to others.
- The incubation period ends when the first signs or symptoms of the disease appear.
The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing.
The rash can initially look like pimples, or blisters, and may be painful or itchy.

Other symptoms can include:

Fever
Chills
Swollen lymph nodes
Exhaustion
Muscles and backache
Headache
Respiratory symptoms (e.g., sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)

Photo Credit: NHS England High Consequence Infectious Disease Network

People with mpox may experience all, or only a few, symptoms. Most people will develop the rash or sores.

Typically, mpox symptoms start within 21 days of exposure to the virus.

If a person has flu-like symptoms, they will likely develop a rash 1-4 days later.

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Treatment

There is no treatment specifically for mpox.

Most people get well from mpox within 2 to 4 weeks without medicines or other treatment.
However, treatment, such as tecovirimat (TPOXX), may be used to treat mpox.
- TPOXX may help treat severe mpox disease involving the eyes, mouth, throat, and genitals.
The most important thing is to try to not touch or scratch the rash. This can spread the rash to other parts of the body, increase the chance of spreading the virus to others, and possible cause open lesions to become infected by bacteria.
Visit the CDC to learn more about Taking Care of Yourself and Managing Your Symptoms.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Is mpox a new disease?
No, mpox is not a new disease. Mpox was first discovered in 1958 in monkeys, hence the name. The first human case of mpox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mpox is regularly found in west and central African countries. The last U.S. mpox outbreak in 2003 was due to animal-to-human transmission.
Is mpox a sexually transmitted infection (STI)?
Sex is just one of the ways that the virus can spread. Mpox primarily spreads from skin-to-skin contact, especially close or intimate physical contact such as sex or touching rashes. Mpox can also spread through contact with contaminated materials like utensils, cups, bedding, towels, clothing, or sex toys.

Mpox may look like STIs that cause a rash on the genitals and anus, including herpes and syphilis. Mpox may also cause rectal pain and can be seen in other STIs as well. It is always important to talk to a healthcare provider as soon as you notice unusual rashes or sores, or have rectal pain.
Who can get mpox?
Anyone can get mpox after having close physical contact with someone who has the infection, especially coming into direct contact with the rash, sores, and bodily fluids. However, the current risk to the general public is low. Though not exclusively, most recent cases include gay, bisexual, trans, and other men who have sex with men, as well as household contacts.
If I had chickenpox, am I protected from mpox?
While the chickenpox rash may look similar to a mpox rash, they are not related. Because chickenpox is caused by a virus that is unrelated to mpox, having had chickenpox (varicella) infection or vaccine in the past will not protect you from mpox.
What should I do if I received a call from the health department?
Please answer any calls from the Health Department. Any information that is shared is considered confidential.
How do you test for mpox?
- You must have a rash with fluid-filled lesions similar to blisters to get an mpox test.
- The mpox test is done on your skin with a swab at a clinic by a health care provider. The swab is rubbed against lesions on your skin, or parts of your rash, and then sent to a specialized lab for mpox testing.
- A lab test result should be available in a few days. While you are waiting, be sure to take steps to care for yourself and others:
  - Stay home and away from others, including pets.
  - Let partner(s) and close contact(s) know you are having symptoms.
Will wearing a condom prevent people from getting mpox?
- Condoms can help reduce your chance of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), but they are NOT known to reduce the spread of mpox.
- Condoms during sex are an important way to protect yourself and others from HIV and other STIs like gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis.
- We do not know yet whether condoms reduce the risk of getting or giving someone else mpox during sex. Do not expect that condoms will reduce your risk of getting mpox.
- While we learn more about how the mpox virus is spread, we want everyone to know that mpox can be spread during any close physical contact, including sex, or by face-to-face coughing or sneezing, kissing, licking, skin to skin rubbing, or sharing or sex toys, bedding, towels, clothing, or utensils, among other ways.
How can I stay up-to-date about mpox?
- Please continue to visit this website at www.sandiegocounty.gov/mpox for information and resources, such as data, vaccine updates, and educational materials for individuals, communities, and healthcare professionals.
- Sign up for text alerts by texting COSD Monkeypox to 468-311, for updated information about vaccine availability.