Mpox

Mpox is a disease spread by close skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact. Learn about the symptoms, how to prevent it, and how the mpox vaccine can help you care for yourself, your partners, and your community.

What is mpox?

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus. People with mpox can develop a painful rash, fever and swollen lymph nodes. The rash usually heals after a few weeks.

How is mpox spread?

Mpox is spread in a few ways. The most common way is through close personal, skin-to-skin contact, which can include:

Direct contact with an infected person’s mpox rash and scabs
Touching the areas around an infected person’s anus, rectum, or vagina
Coming in contact with an infected person’s saliva, snot, or mucus

Most often, this close contact can happen when you’re having sex—including foreplay—with someone who has mpox, including:

Oral, anal, or vaginal sex
Touching the genitals or anus
Hugging, kissing, or massage
Being face-to-face for a long time

Other less common ways that mpox can be spread include pregnancy and birth.

Mpox can occur at the same time as other infections, including another rash illness such as herpes or syphilis.

What are the symptoms of mpox?

People with mpox often get a rash that looks like pimples or blisters and can be painful or itchy. It can appear on your face, mouth, hands, feet, chest, genitals, and/or anus or rectum. Some people also have flu-like symptoms, either before or after the rash. Most symptoms start within three weeks (but typically within one to two weeks) of being exposed to the virus.

Flu-like symptoms can include:

If you have mpox, you may experience all or only a few symptoms. Some people may only experience a rash.

If you have any symptoms of STIs or HIV that include a rash or skin lesion, it’s a good idea to get tested. Getting tested regularly for STIs and HIV is a good way to stay on top of your sexual health.

When should I get tested for mpox?

If you’ve been in close contact with someone who has the virus, you should see a health care provider. If you have a rash that could be mpox, your provider may recommend you get tested.

You could have a higher risk of getting mpox if you:

Have been exposed to someone with mpox
Had a sexual partner in the past two weeks who was diagnosed with mpox
Are a gay, bisexual, or other man who has sex with men, or a transgender person who has sex with men

Because it’s spread through close contact, your risk for mpox goes up the more sexual partners you have.

How do I get tested for mpox?

A provider will take a swab from your rash, with results usually available within a few days. While you’re waiting for your results, make sure to isolate yourself from others to prevent spreading mpox. Remember to ask for testing for STIs and HIV if you’re not sure of your status.

What is the treatment for mpox?

Most people who get mpox don’t get severely sick and usually recover within two to four weeks without any treatment.

If you have a severe disease or weakened immune system, treatment may be recommended. Health care providers may recommend antiviral medications in rare cases.

It’s important to take care of yourself while you recover from mpox:

Try not to scratch any rashes. It doesn’t help with recovery and can spread the virus to other parts of your body.
Use gauze or bandages to cover rashes
Soak in a warm bath. It can provide some relief. Make sure to fully dry your skin afterwards.
Avoid shaving any parts of your body with a rash or scabs
Eat healthy and get plenty of rest to help your body heal

How can I prevent mpox?

The good news is that there is a vaccine to prevent mpox that will help you stay protected.

The vaccine is called Jynneos®. It’s a two-dose vaccine, and you need to get both doses to get the best protection. The second dose should be given four weeks after the first dose. Your protection is highest two weeks after your second dose. If you have received only one dose of the mpox vaccine and it has been longer than 28 days, you should receive your second dose as soon as possible. If you have received two doses of the mpox vaccine, no further vaccination is needed.

The vaccine has been proven to be very effective. People who have been vaccinated can still get mpox, but the illness is usually less severe. Still, even after you’ve been vaccinated, you should continue to avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with anyone who has an active mpox infection.

The vaccine is available at clinics across Massachusetts. Find an mpox vaccine site near you.

Additional ways to protect yourself include:

Avoiding skin-to-skin contact with other people who have rashes. Rashes can look like pimples, blisters, or scabs. The rash could be on the genitals or anus, or other areas like hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth.
Not sharing things with someone who has or could have mpox. If you know someone who has mpox, don’t share eating utensils or drinks. Don’t touch bedding, towels, sex toys and/or gear, or clothing worn/used by someone with the virus.
Washing your hands. Handwashing is one of the best ways you can protect yourself, your partners, and your community. When you wash, use soap and water, or even an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially before you eat. Wash your sex toys and gear too! Cleaning toys with soap and water before and after every use is always a good idea.
Talking with your partners. Open communication can help you stay protected. Start by getting contact information from sex partners so you can communicate about any future health concerns. Talk with all your partners about any mpox symptoms you may be experiencing, including a rash and flu-like symptoms.
Trying new things that carry less risk. If you’re sexually active, there are some other ways to reduce your chances of being exposed to mpox.
- Reduce your number of sex partners to minimize the likelihood that you are exposed to mpox.
- Try sexting or cybering. If you and your partner trust each other not to post or share pictures or videos without consent, consider virtual sex.
- Consider having sex with your clothes on.
- Masturbation is the safest kind of sex. You can go solo, or you and your partner can masturbate together, at a distance, without touching each other.

What should I do if I’m a close contact of someone who has tested positive for mpox or if I think I’ve been exposed?

Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself and your community:

Keep an eye on your symptoms. Mpox symptoms usually show up within three weeks of exposure
Get vaccinated. Getting vaccinated, even after you’ve been exposed, can help prevent mpox or make it less severe
Minimize spread. Limiting contact with others—even if you’re not showing symptoms—can lessen the spread
Talk to a trusted health care provider. A health care provider can help you figure out the best next steps. Find a health care provider near you.

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