South Heartland District Health Department

What You Need to Know About Mpox

April 24, 2024

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Mpox Facts

Mpox is a rare disease caused by the mpox virus. Symptoms include a rash or sores (pox), often with an earlier flu-like illness. It can spread to anyone through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact.

Exposure can happen through:

• Direct contact with mpox rash, sores or scabs;
• Contact with objects, fabrics (clothing, bedding, or towels), and surfaces that have been used by someone with mpox; and
• Respiratory droplets or oral fluids from a person with mpox.

This contact can happen during intimate sexual contact, including:

• Oral, anal, and vaginal sex;
• Hugging, massage, or mutual masturbation;
• Kissing and talking closely; and
• Touching fabrics and objects during sex that were used by a person with mpox, such as bedding, towels and sex toys.

Public health officials know the virus can be spread in fluid or pus from mpox sores and are trying to better understand if it could be present in semen or vaginal fluids.

What Are the Symptoms?

Early flu-like symptoms of mpox can include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches and backache
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Chills
• Exhaustion

Some people experience a rash or sores first, followed by other symptoms, and some only experience a rash or sores. Said rash or sores will sometimes appear located on or near the genitals or anus, but other times they might show up in areas like the hands, feet, chest or face. They may even be inside the body, including the mouth, vagina, or anus.

The sores will go through several stages before healing. Mpox can be spread from the time symptoms start until all sores have healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. This can take several weeks.

If You Have a New or Unexplained Rash, Sores, or Other Symptoms

• See your healthcare provider - if you don't have a provider or health insurance, visit a public health clinic near you.
• When you see a healthcare provider for possible mpox, remind them that this virus is circulating in the community.
• Avoid sex or being intimate with anyone until you have been checked out.

If You or Your Partner Have Mpox

• Follow the treatment and prevention recommendations of your healthcare provider.
• Avoid sex or being intimate with anyone until all your sores have healed and you have a fresh layer of skin formed.

For more information, please visit www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/index.html.