An outbreak of a viral infection called mpox (also known as monkeypox) is occurring in many countries, including countries that have not previously had cases. Because the virus can spread through close contact, places, where people live or stay in proximity to others, are at a higher risk of mpox transmission if the virus is circulating in the community. Sometimes referred to as congregate settings, these are a range of contexts and facilities where people are living close to one another, often in large numbers. These settings commonly contain shared spaces such as bathrooms, sleeping spaces, kitchens, and common areas, and/or shared items such as cutlery, bedding, and clothing.
What you need to know:
- Monkeypox is preventable, but symptoms can be uncomfortable and painful.
- Children, pregnant women, and people who are immunocompromised have a higher risk of more serious symptoms.
- People living with untreated or uncontrolled HIV infection are also at higher risk of becoming very ill, especially if they don’t know their HIV status
- Cases of mpox can be confirmed using laboratory-based diagnostic testing.
Monkeypox can spread to people through contact with an infected animal:
- There are countries where the monkeypox virus is also present in some animals. These countries are in Africa.
- Infection can occur, for example, through bites or scratches, or during activities such as hunting, skinning, trapping, cooking and touching dead animals.
Symptoms for mpox often include:
- Rash on face, hands, feet, body
- Rash in mouth, throat, eyes
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Headaches
- Sore muscles and back aches
- Low energy
- Pain or difficulty when urinating
- Good care of symptoms and management of skin rash and eye lesions will help prevent the development of serious medical complications
- People are still infectious until skin lesions have scabbed over and a new layer of skin has formed underneath.
Mpox spreads through close contact:
- Skin-to-skin, particularly when in contact with skin lesions
- Face-to-face (e.g. talking, breathing)
- By sharing close quarters such as beds
- From contaminated bedding, towels, clothing, surfaces, needles, and objects
- From infected animals in some settings
How to take care of yourself if recovering at home?
Protect yourself and others from mpox by:
- Knowing the symptoms, how it is contracted, and how to check yourself regularly.
- Avoiding close contact with someone who has mpox and encouraging isolation where possible.
- Having open conversations with people you have been in close contact with if you have been infected with mpox.
- Reaching out to a health provider/service in case you develop symptoms.
- If you are diagnosed with mpox, continue your regular medication, including for the treatment of HIV, TB, and viral hepatitis.