Mpox (formerly monkeypox) has dominated some headlines in recent years, due to outbreaks in 2022 and 2024. Mpox, which is caused by the monkeypox virus, can result in several unpleasant symptoms, including fever, swollen lymph nodes, rash and more, according to the World Health Organization.
The disease can vary in severity, with some infected people having mild cases and others having more severe cases. The rash changes from flat sore to fluid-filled blisters that may be itchy or painful. As the rash heals, lesions dry up and fall off.
There are two groups of the mpox virus, which are called clades. Clade II tends to cause milder symptoms, while Clade I tends to cause more severe disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In 2024, Clade I has been circulating in Africa. Clade II generated a global outbreak of mpox in 2022.
Am I At Risk of Getting Mpox?
Generally, the risk of contracting mpox is low, especially when comparing the disease to respiratory illnesses, such as COVID-19. Mpox is generally only spread through direct person-to-person contact, including:
- Directly breathing on another person
- Touching another person
- Kissing
- Sexual activity
You may be at higher risk of getting mpox if you:
- Have more than one sexual partner
- Are a man who has sex with men
- Are a sex worker
- Cook or eat wild animals
- Work in health care and experience a sharps injury
- Have a weakened immune system
- Travel to areas where an mpox outbreak is more common:
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic
Symptoms
Symptoms of mpox can include:
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Fatigue
- Back pain
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Fever
- Rash, which can include skin lesions (blisters) anywhere on the body, including the:
- Anus, groin and genitals
- Throat
- Mouth and face
- Soles of feet and palms of hands
- Difficulty urinating
- Swelling and pain in rectum
Symptoms can begin from a day to three weeks after exposure to a person with mpox and can last two weeks to a month or longer. During that span, the lesions will dry and fall off.
Some people infected with mpox experience more severe disease. Complications can include:
- Pneumonia
- Vision loss
- Difficulty swallowing
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- Infection
- Swelling of the brain, heart, rectum, genital organs or urinary tract
- Death
If you are pregnant, immunocompromised or have HIV, you are at higher risk of having more severe disease if you are infected with mpox.
What Should I Do if I Develop Symptoms?
If you have symptoms of mpox, you can see your primary care provider or an urgent care to get testing for mpox. Your rash, mouth, anus or rectum can be swabbed for this testing.
If you contract mpox, the best thing to do is stay home and avoid contact with other people.
If you do have to be around others, cover your skin lesions, wear a mask, wash your hands frequently and disinfect surfaces frequently. The CDC recommends washing your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially before eating or touching your face and after you use the bathroom. Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect you, your family and your friends from getting sick.
Other steps you can take to help with symptom relief and recovery include:
- Taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain after consulting with your health care provider or pharmacist
- Taking warm baths
- Using saltwater rinses to relieve pain from mouth sores
- Keeping your skin uncovered and dry, unless you are around another person
Until your skin has healed:
- Avoid shaving areas that have sores on them, to avoid spreading to other areas of the body
- Do not scratch sores or pop blisters, because infection can result
Severe cases of mpox can be treated with a medication called tecovirimat.
Can I Prevent Mpox?
Mpox can be prevented through a vaccine.
If you are exposed to someone with mpox, you can get the vaccine within four to 14 days of exposure to lower your chances of getting infected. If you are exposed, the earlier you get vaccinated, the better. If you are in a high-risk group, you can also get the vaccine during a mpox outbreak before being exposed.
The name of the common vaccine is JYNNEOS®:
- To complete the series you need to get two doses given 28 days apart.
- Common side effects include redness at the injection site, injection site reactions, chills, fatigue, muscle pain and headache.
The CDC recommends vaccination against mpox if:
- You had known or suspected exposure to someone with mpox
- You had a sex partner in the past two weeks who was diagnosed with mpox
- You are a gay, bisexual or other man who has sex with men or a transgender, nonbinary or gender-diverse person who in the past six months has had any of the following:
- A new diagnosis of one or more sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis)
- More than one sex partner
- You have had any of the following in the past six months:
- Sex at a commercial sex venue (like a sex club or bathhouse)
- Sex related to a large commercial event or in a geographic area (city or county for example) where mpox virus transmission is occurring
- You have a sex partner with any of the above risks
- You anticipate experiencing any of the above scenarios
- You are at risk for occupational exposure to orthopoxviruses (e.g., certain people who work in a laboratory or a health care facility).
The CDC does not recommend vaccination against mpox if you had a severe allergic reaction (such as anaphylaxis) after getting a previous dose of the JYNNEOS vaccine or to a vaccine component. Talk to your health care provider if you had an allergic reaction to the antibiotics gentamicin or ciprofloxacin, or chicken or egg protein. If you have a weakened immune system, talk to a healthcare provider or pharmacist.
You can find a location that offers the mpox vaccine by visiting https://MpoxVaccine.CDC.gov/.
UofL Health Can Help
If you have questions about mpox, contact UofL Physicians – Infectious Diseases at 502-561-8844. If you become ill and need a provider, call UofL Physicians – Primary Care at 502-588-4343 or visit a UofL Health – Urgent Care Plus location.
