Protect against monkeypox (mpox)

Mpox is a viral infection caused by the mpox virus, which is in the same family of viruses that causes smallpox. It’s less contagious than smallpox and usually spreads through close, personal contact. Generally, it does not cause severe illness, and most mpox cases resolve on their own. That said, a small number of reported cases have resulted in severe illness and death.

Due to the high number of cases, the World Health Organization has declared the current mpox outbreak a global health emergency. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed cases of mpox in most parts of the U.S., including San Diego. For more information, please visit the CDC’s website.

Mpox usually spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact with someone who has a mpox rash. It can also be spread by sharing surfaces, clothing, or bedding with an infected person along with blood and/or bodily fluids. Mpox can spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has healed, all scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of skin has formed. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks.

According to the CDC, symptoms of mpox can include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches and backache
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Chills
• Exhaustion
• Respiratory symptoms (e.g. sore throat, nasal congestion or cough)
• A rash that may be located on or near the genitals or anus but could also be on other areas like the hands, feet, chest, face or mouth. The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing. The rash can look like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy.

Mpox symptoms usually start within 3 weeks of exposure to the virus. If someone has flu-like symptoms, they will usually develop a rash 1-4 days later.

Yes. The County of San Diego is currently prioritizing vaccination for individuals 18 or older who:

• Have been identified as intimate with or otherwise close contacts of a person diagnosed with mpox.
• Have been intimate or otherwise had skin-to-skin contact with a person who has a mpox-like rash.
• Have attended an event where a diagnosed case has been reported.
• Are part of a community in which mpox infections have been reported. At this time, this includes members of the LGBTQ+ community, including gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and have had more than one sex partner in the last month.

For more information on the mpox vaccine, visit Sharp HealthCare’s website.

Along with vaccination — recommended for people who have been in close contact with individuals who have mpox or who had multiple sexual partners in the past 14 days in an area with known mpox cases — the CDC recommends you:

• Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like mpox.
• Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with mpox.
• Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with mpox.
• Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with mpox.
• Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels or clothing of a person with mpox.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

If you think you may have mpox contact your primary care physician and follow the CDC's isolation guidelines:

• Do not share items that have been worn, used or handled with other people or animals.
• Wash and disinfect items that have been worn or handled and surfaces that have been touched.
• Avoid close physical contact with other people.
• Avoid crowds and congregate settings, such as residential facilities, dormitories and prisons.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after direct contact with the rash.