Click here to see the recording of PPF’s Mpox Town Hall

What is Mpox?

Mpox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Mpox virus is part of the same family of viruses as variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. Mpox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder, and Mpox is rarely fatal. Mpox is not related to chickenpox.

Mpox was discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research. 

The first human case of Mpox was recorded in 1970. Prior to the 2022 outbreak, Mpox had been reported in people in several central and western African countries. Previously, almost all Mpox cases in people outside of Africa were linked to international travel to countries where the disease commonly occurs or through imported animals. These cases occurred on multiple continents.

How does Mpox spread?

Mpox spreads in different ways. The virus can spread from person-to-person through:

• direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids
• respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex
• 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 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. People who do not have Mpox symptoms cannot spread the virus to others. At this time, it is not known if Mpox can spread through semen or vaginal fluids.

Stigma: Mpox & the LGBTQ+ Community

Mpox appears to be spreading now among some sexual and social networks of gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men (MSM). However, there is no such thing as a gay disease. Viruses and bacteria can and do infect anyone regardless of sexual orientation. It is also not a sexually transmitted infection. Instead, it is spread through close contact, as previously described. Anyone can get Mpox, including heterosexual people, women, transgender and nonbinary people, and others. It is important not to stereotype gay and bisexual men as bearers of disease. Gay and bisexual men already experience significant stigma and prejudice and are vulnerable to discrimination and violence victimization.

Stigma about gay and bisexual people, including laws criminalizing homosexuality and same-sex behavior which still exist in many countries, may cause men who have sex with men to fear disclosing their same-sex behavior. This may also make them reluctant to disclose that they are part of social and sexual networks that are disproportionately affected by the current outbreak, making prevention of the spread of monkeypox more difficult. The public health response to this outbreak of Mpox should not be allowed to exacerbate homophobia and the scapegoating of gay and bisexual men.

How to prevent the spread of Mpox

Take the following steps to prevent getting/spreading Mpox:

• Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like Mpox.
  • Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with Mpox.
  • Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with Mpox.
  • Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with Mpox.
• Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with Mpox.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• In Central and West Africa, avoid contact with animals that can spread Mpox virus, usually rodents and primates. Also, avoid sick or dead animals, as well as bedding or other materials they have touched.

If you are sick with Mpox:

• Isolate at home
• If you have an active rash or other symptoms, stay in a separate room or area away from people or pets you live with, when possible.

What should a person do if they have a new or unexplained rash or other symptoms?

• Avoid sex or being intimate with anyone until you have been checked out by a 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, wear a mask, and remind them that this virus is circulating in the area.
• Avoid gatherings, especially if they involve close, personal, skin-to-skin contact.
• Think about the people you have had close, personal, or sexual contact during the last 21 days, including people you met through dating apps. To help stop the spread, you might be asked to share this information if you have received a Mpox diagnosis.

Vaccine Info

CDC recommends vaccination for people who have been exposed to Mpox and people who are at higher risk of being exposed to Mpox, including:

• People who have been identified by public health officials as a contact of someone with Mpox
• People who may have been exposed to Mpox, such as:
  • People who are aware that one of their sexual partners in the past 2 weeks has been diagnosed with monkeypox
  • People who had multiple sexual partners in the past 2 weeks in an area with known Mpox
• People whose jobs may expose them to orthopoxviruses, such as:
  • Laboratory workers who perform testing for orthopoxviruses
  • Laboratory workers who handle cultures or animals with orthopoxviruses
  • Some designated healthcare or public health workers

The  CDC advises  that  people who have been exposed to Mpox be given the vaccine to prevent them from developing the disease. This is called post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP. PEP is most effective at preventing Mpox if the vaccine is administered  within 4 days of exposure. If given between 4–14 days after the date of exposure, vaccination may help reduce symptoms, but may not prevent the infection from developing.

At this time, the JYNNEOS vaccine is being prioritized for the following groups:

• Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for known close contacts of Mpox cases who are identified by public health via case investigation, contact tracing, and risk exposure assessments.

• Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)++  for individuals with certain risk factors who are more likely to have been recently exposed to Mpox even if they have not had documented exposure to someone with confirmed Mpox, such as people who attended an event or venue where there was known Mpox exposure.

• Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for individuals at occupational risk of Mpox according to Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) guidance, including: laboratory workers who perform Mpox testing, and clinical and public health workers who collect Mpox specimens.

Additional Resources

California Department of Public Health

CDC Mpox Index

Harm-reduction messaging on how to lower chances of getting Mpox during Pride events (CDC) 

Building Healthy Online Communities Resources, including Health Alerts in English and Spanish  

Mpox: Get the Facts Flyer (CDC)  

Mpox & Safer-sex: English and Spanish 

Summer 2022 Health Tips for Gay and Bi Men:  Palm Card with QR Code linking to information on Mpox, meningococcal disease, HIV, STIs, and COVID (CDC) 

Mpox & Pride: Know Before You Go — Recorded Webinar (InterPride) 

What Gay & Bisexual Men Need to Know About Mpox in English and Spanish (CDPH, Gay Sexuality and Social Policy Initiative, and Los Angeles LGBT Center). Also available in nine languages here.