Mpox (monkeypox) is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus.

What is Mpox/MonkeyPox

Mpox (monkeypox) is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever. Most people fully recover, but some get very sick.

Anyone can get mpox. It spreads from contact with infected:

• persons, through touch, kissing, or sex
• animals, when hunting, skinning, or cooking them
• materials, such as contaminated sheets, clothes or needles
• pregnant persons, who may pass the virus on to their unborn baby

If you have mpox:

Tell anyone you have been close to recently

Stay at home until all scabs fall off and a new layer of skin forms

Cover lesions and wear a well-fitting mask when around other people

Avoid physical contact

Symptoms

Mpox causes signs and symptoms which usually begin within a week but can start 1–21 days after exposure. Symptoms typically last 2–4 weeks but may last longer in someone with a weakened immune system.

Common symptoms of mpox are:

• rash
• fever
• sore throat
• headache
• muscle aches
• back pain
• low energy
• swollen lymph nodes

For some people, the first symptom of mpox is a rash, while others may have different symptoms first.

The rash begins as a flat sore which develops into a blister filled with liquid and may be itchy or painful. As the rash heals, the lesions dry up, crust over and fall off.

Some people may have one or a few skin lesions and others have hundreds or more. These can appear anywhere on the body such as the:

• palms of hands and soles of feet
• face, mouth and throat
• groin and genital areas
• anus

Some people also have painful swelling of their rectum or pain and difficulty when peeing.

People with mpox are infectious and can pass the disease on to others until all sores have healed and a new layer of skin has formed.

Children, pregnant people and people with weak immune systems are at risk for complications from mpox.

Treatments

The goal of treating mpox is to take care of the rash, manage pain and prevent complications. Early and supportive care is important to help manage symptoms and avoid further problems.

1. Self-care

Most people with mpox will recover within 2–4 weeks. Things to do to help the symptoms and prevent infecting others:

Do

• Stay home and in your own room if possible
• Wash hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer, especially before or after touching sores
• Wear a mask and cover lesions when around other people until your rash heals
• Keep skin dry and uncovered (unless in a room with someone else)
• Avoid touching items in shared spaces and disinfect shared spaces frequently
• Use saltwater rinses for sores in the mouth
• Take sitz baths or warm baths with baking soda or Epsom salts for body sores
• Take over-the-counter medications for pain like paracetamol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen

Do not

• Pop blisters or scratch sores, which can slow healing, spread the rash to other parts of the body, and cause sores to become infected
• Shave areas with sores until scabs have healed and you have new skin underneath (this can spread the rash to other parts of the body)

Medical treatments

Getting an mpox vaccine can help prevent infection. The vaccine should be given within 4 days of contact with someone who has mpox (or within up to 14 days if there are no symptoms).

It is recommended for people at high risk to get vaccinated to prevent infection with mpox, especially during an outbreak. This includes:

• health workers at risk of exposure
• men who have sex with men
• people with multiple sex partners
• sex workers

Persons who have mpox should be cared for away from other people.

See how many people killed by this Mpox disease so far