Answering your questions about monkeypox (Mpox)
Mpox—formerly known as monkeypox—is regularly found in parts of central and west Africa and has caused some infections in the United States.
To learn more, we talked to infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist Karen Brust, MD.
- If you have certain risk factors and you’ve never had mpox—or you haven’t gotten the mpox vaccine—you should receive both recommended doses.
- There are two kinds of mpox, clade I and clade II. You can’t tell which kind of mpox someone has by looking at them.
- Clade II mpox is circulating at low levels in the U.S.
- Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like mpox.
Mpox is a disease caused by infection with a virus, known as Monkeypox virus. In fact, this virus is part of the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. People with mpox often get a rash, along with other symptoms.
There are two types of the virus that causes mpox: clade I and clade II.
Clade I has usually caused higher numbers of severe illness, and it’s responsible for the current rise of cases in multiple countries in central and eastern Africa. Two cases of Clade I mpox have been found in Sweden and Thailand in travelers from Africa. Around 70% of Clade I mpox cases in eastern Africa are in children less than 15 years old. Recent outbreaks of Clade I have death rates around one to three percent.
Clade II is the type that caused the global outbreak of mpox that began in 2022. Luckily, these cases are generally less severe. More than 99.9% of people with infections from clade II survive. The clade II version of the virus was detected in prisoners at a correctional facility in Fort Dodge, Iowa, in late August.
People with mpox often get a rash that may be located on hands, feet, chest, face, or near the genitals. Usually, the rash will initially look like pimples or blisters that may be painful or itchy, and it will go through several stages—including scabs—before healing.
For the first three to 17 days after infection, a person will not have symptoms and may feel fine.
Other symptoms include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Exhaustion
- Muscle aches and backache
- Headache
- Respiratory symptoms (e.g., sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)
Both types of mpox can spread through direct contact with infected wild animals (mainly rodents), close contact with a person with mpox, and through contact with contaminated materials.
A person with mpox can spread it to others one to four days before symptoms develop and are at risk of spreading mpox until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed.
The virus typically spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact with mpox rash or scabs from a person with mpox. Saliva, snot, mucus, and other bodily fluids can also spread mpox.
There are a few different steps you can take to protect yourself from mpox. The first one is to get vaccinated.
The JYNNEOS vaccine is two doses, and each dose should be given four weeks apart. It’s important to learn about your potential risk factors for mpox and talk to your doctor about getting both recommended doses of the vaccine.
If you have only received one dose of the vaccine, it’s never too late to get the second dose. Right now, getting more than two doses of the mpox vaccine—also called a “booster”—isn’t recommended.
Don’t kiss, hug, cuddle, or have sex with someone who has mpox.
Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with mpox has used and make sure to disinfect fabrics and surfaces regularly.
As always, wash your hands often. Proper hand hygiene is the best way to protect yourself from getting sick.
- You had known or suspected exposure to someone with mpox
- You had a sex partner in the past two weeks who was diagnosed with mpox
- You are a gay, bisexual, or other man who has sex with men or a transgender, nonbinary, or gender-diverse person who in the past six months has had any of the following:
- A new diagnosis of one or more sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis)
- More than one sex partner
- You have had any of the following in the past six months:
- Sex at a commercial sex venue (like a sex club or bathhouse)
- Sex related to a large commercial event or in a geographic area (city or county for example) where mpox virus transmission is occurring
- You have a sex partner with any of the above risks
- You anticipate experiencing any of the above scenarios
- You are at risk for occupational exposure to orthopoxviruses (e.g., certain people who work in a laboratory or a health care facility).
- You had a severe allergic reaction (such as anaphylaxis) after getting a previous dose of the JYNNEOS vaccine or to a vaccine component.
- Talk to your health care provider if you had an allergic reaction to the antibiotics gentamicin or ciprofloxacin, or to chicken or egg protein.
There is no specific treatment for mpox, but there are several ways to help with symptoms and complications.
- Use gauze or bandages to cover the rash and wear a mask to limit spreading mpox to others.
- Don’t shave the area with the rash until the scabs have fallen off and a new layer of skin has formed.
- Keep the infected area clean and make sure the rash is dry when you are not in the bath or shower.
- Rinse your mouth with salt water at least four times a day if you have a rash in your mouth.
- Eat healthy and get plenty of rest so your body can heal.
You should see a health care provider as soon as you can if you think you might be sick with mpox. Most people recover fully within two to four weeks without needing special medicine.
Over-the-counter medicines like ibuprofen and Tylenol can help you feel better. If you have a weakened immune system, an active skin condition, or are pregnant, make sure to ask your health care provider if other medication is needed to treat your case of mpox.
The most important thing is to not scratch or pop the rash. It might be uncomfortable, but scratching or popping the rash can spread the virus to other parts of the body, and it could cause the open lesions to become infected by bacteria
Mpox is something we can test for. We would only recommend using the test in certain situations.
- The patient has been exposed to someone with known mpox
- The patient had contact with someone who recently returned to the U.S. from an endemic area or an area with a current outbreak
- The patient traveled to one of those areas
If you think you have mpox or have come in contact with someone who has mpox, take precautions and see a health care provider as soon as you can. The provider will help you determine if you need to be teste
There is a low level of circulation of clade II mpox in the U.S. If you have certain risk factors for mpox, ask your health care provider about your options for getting vaccinated.
