Mpox (monkeypox): symptoms, transmission, vaccine and who to notify
Mpox, formerly called monkeypox, is an infection caused by a virus that spreads mainly through close contact, including sexual contact. It usually causes a rash of spots or blisters, often in the genital or anal area. In most cases it clears up on its own in 2 to 4 weeks, and there is a vaccine.
What is mpox?
It is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), from the same family as the smallpox virus. There are two main variants or clades: clade II, responsible for the worldwide outbreak in 2022, and clade I, typical of Central Africa, which since 2024 has spread to other countries and can cause more severe cases.
Mpox symptoms
Symptoms appear between 3 and 21 days after contact:
- A rash of spots, bumps, blisters or pustules that end up forming scabs. It can appear on the genitals, anus, mouth, face, hands, feet or chest, and it may hurt or itch.
- Fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and tiredness.
- Swollen glands.
- If it affects the rectum, pain, bleeding or an urgent need to pass stools.
The illness usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks.
How is mpox spread?
It spreads through direct contact with the lesions, scabs or body fluids of an infected person, especially during sex, and also through close, prolonged face-to-face contact or objects that have been in contact with the lesions, such as bedding or towels. You are contagious from when symptoms start until all the scabs have fallen off and new skin has formed.
Diagnosis
It is diagnosed with a PCR test on a sample from the lesions. If you have a suspicious rash, call your doctor or a sexual health clinic before going, cover the lesions and wear a mask. It is a good idea to get tested for other STIs too.
Treatment and isolation
In most cases no specific treatment is needed: the symptoms, such as pain and fever, are treated and the lesions are cared for so they do not get infected. Antivirals exist for severe cases or people with a weakened immune system.
While you have lesions, you should isolate at home, cover the lesions, not share clothes, towels or utensils and not have sex until all the scabs have fallen off and new skin has formed.
How to tell your partners you have mpox
Notifying your contacts is very useful: if they get vaccinated within 4 days of contact they may avoid the disease, and up to 14 days later it can make it milder. Some tips:
- Do it as soon as possible, as soon as you are diagnosed.
- Explain what they should do: ask about the vaccine, watch for symptoms for 21 days and avoid sex in the meantime.
- No stigma: anyone can get it through close contact.
Public health services also follow up on contacts. If you cannot notify a casual partner yourself, you can send them an anonymous notice with STI notice; keep in mind the notice is not immediate, because it is sent in the mornings from Monday to Friday.
Who should you notify?
The people you have had sexual or close physical contact with since your first symptoms began, including fever or feeling unwell even before the rash appeared, and the people you live with. The public health service will tell you the exact period.
If you have been told you might have mpox
Call your doctor or a sexual health clinic and ask about the post-exposure vaccine, which is recommended within the first 4 days after contact and may be offered up to 14 days. For 21 days, check your temperature and watch for spots, blisters or swollen glands, and avoid sex. If symptoms appear, isolate and seek care.
Prevention and vaccine
Depending on the country, the vaccine is recommended for people at higher risk of exposure, such as those with higher-risk sexual practices, and for some professionals. It is given in two doses at least 28 days apart. Also avoid close contact with people who have a suspicious rash and do not share bedding or towels.
Frequently asked questions about mpox
Do condoms protect against mpox?
They lower the risk of transmission through the genitals, but they do not prevent it, because the virus spreads through contact with lesions that can be on other parts of the body.
Are monkeypox and mpox the same thing?
Yes. Mpox is the name the WHO has recommended since 2022 for the disease previously called monkeypox.
Other sexually transmitted infections
Syphilis · Gonorrhea · Genital herpes · HIV · Pubic lice (crabs) · HPV and genital warts · Chlamydia · Yeast infection (candidiasis) · Hepatitis A, B and C · Trichomoniasis · Scabies
Sources: MedlinePlus: mpox; WHO: mpox fact sheet.Health information updated in October 2026. It does not replace advice from a healthcare professional.