JavaScript is required to use content on this page. Please enable JavaScript in your browser.
Human mpox is a rare but serious illness caused by infection with the mpox virus. It can infect humans and other animals, such as monkeys and rodents. Most people who get mpox recover without any serious complications or the need for medical treatment.
People living with a condition that weakens the immune system, such as advanced or untreated HIV, AIDS, certain cancers, an organ transplant, or another immune deficiency disorder, may be more likely to have serious complications or need treatment. Getting vaccinated can protect against getting mpox, or can reduce the severity of illness if you do get mpox.
Historically, most human cases of mpox have been identified in Central and West Africa. Rarely, human mpox cases have been identified outside of Central or West Africa, though many cases reported links to those regions, either through travel or exposure to humans or animals that had been infected in those areas.
Symptoms of mpox can include:
Fever
Chills
Headache
Exhaustion
Swollen lymph nodes
Muscle aches and backache
A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus
The rash goes through different stages before healing completely. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. Sometimes, people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience a rash.
Mpox spreads in different ways. The virus can spread from person to person through:
Direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids
During sex because mpox can be sexually transmissible
During other intimate physical contact, such as kissing, or cuddling
Touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids
Pregnant people can spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta
It’s possible that mpox might be transmitted by respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact. It’s also possible for people to get mpox from infected animals, either by being scratched or bitten by the animal or by preparing or eating meat or using products from an infected animal.
Mpox can spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. At this time, scientists are trying to understand:
If a person who doesn’t have mpox symptoms can spread the virus
How often mpox is spread through respiratory secretions, and at what stage of infection a person with mpox might be more likely to spread the virus through respiratory secretions
Whether mpox can be spread through semen, vaginal fluid, urine, or feces
Mpox hasn’t been shown to spread from person to person through casual contact, like being in the same area, having casual conversation, or briefly touching shared items like doorknobs. Sharing items such as gym equipment or chairs is unlikely to expose people to mpox.
