Monkeypox: What you need to know

Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, is a rare disease caused by a virus that belongs to the same family of viruses that cause smallpox. It’s less contagious than smallpox and usually spreads through close, personal contact. Generally, it also causes less severe illness, so most mpox cases resolve on their own.

Mpox doesn’t spread as easily as respiratory viruses like COVID-19. So most people aren’t considered at high risk. But Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping protect our members and providing appropriate treatment to those who do become infected. Here’s what you need to know about mpox.

If you think you have mpox symptoms, please self-quarantine and call 404-365-0966 to arrange for testing or care. Or you can go online and choose “Phone visit now” or “Video visit now” to speak with a clinician with no appointment needed.

In the U.S., most people with mpox develop a rash. It usually starts as a red area that turns into pimples and blisters before scabbing. Before the rash starts, some people also experience fever, chills, and fatigue.

In the current mpox outbreak, the rash is often only in the genital area and thighs. But there have been cases where the rash is on the face, hands, and arms. It’s important to keep the rash covered around other people whenever possible.

Symptoms usually start 7-14 days after exposure, but it can take up to 21 days to experience symptoms after an exposure. Images of mpox lesions are found at the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) website.

Mpox usually spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact with someone who has a rash. It can also be spread by sharing surfaces, objects, clothing, or bedding with an infected person. In the current outbreak, it appears to rarely spread through coughing. Events with skin-to-skin or face-to-face contact with others can increase your risk of exposure.

Until symptoms start, mpox isn’t contagious. After symptoms start, it’s contagious until all scabs have fallen off and new skin has formed in their place.

Currently, most cases of mpox have been seen in men who have sex with men, but mpox can spread to anyone through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact. This close contact can occur during intimate sexual contact including oral, anal, and vaginal sex. It can also occur when touching fabrics (clothing/bedding/towels) or objects that were used by a person with mpox during sex.

Crowded events with skin-to-skin and face-to-face contact with many people can increase your risk of exposure.

Visit this CDC website for information on Mpox and reducing risk in social settings.

People with mpox can experience:

• Rash, pimples, and blisters
• Pain from the rash
• Head, muscle, and back aches
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Chills
• Exhaustion

Mpox illness usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks, and most people will get better on their own.

Mpox tests need to be processed at a qualified laboratory facility. So you need to get tested by a health care professional. There is currently no home test for mpox.

The vaccine can help prevent mpox before or after exposure to the virus. If you get mpox, some smallpox treatments can be effective. But many mpox cases don’t need treatment with medication.

For very severe cases of Mpox, or if you have a very low immune system, an oral antiviral medication called Tecovirimat (TPOXX) may be used. This medication is currently available in VERY LIMITED supplies from the Georgia DPH. Contact your physician if you think you need TPOXX.

Mpox is usually spread through direct skin-to-skin contact. In general, it’s best to avoid:

• Close contact with people who have a rash that looks like mpox
• Touching the rash or scabs of someone with mpox
• Having sex with someone with mpox or who has a rash that looks like mpox
• Sharing clothing or bedding with someone who has mpox

According to the CDC, men who have sex with men make up most of the reported cases in the current mpox outbreak. But anyone who's been in close contact with someone who has mpox is at risk.

If you think you have monkeypox symptoms, please self-quarantine and call 404-365-0966 to arrange for testing or care. Or you can go online and choose “Phone visit now” or “Video visit now” to speak with a clinician with no appointment needed. Please do not go to a medical facility to seek care unless directed to by your care team.

If testing is arranged at a Kaiser Permanente facility, please make sure that rash/ulcers/lesions are completely covered and wear a mask at all times while there. Please do not use a kiosk to check in—please use a check-in desk instead.

Our doctors will work closely with local public health officials to address any mpox exposure or cases.

 

Source:

Visit cdc.gov for more information about mpox. 

If you tested positive for mpox virus or if a health care provider or public health official told you that mpox is suspected, you must follow the home isolation instructions below to help prevent the disease from spreading to other people in your household and community

People with mpox should isolate until the rash has fully resolved, the scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed. You must isolate until a physician, in collaboration with public health, has determined that you are no longer contagious

 

During your isolation period:

 

Stay home except to get medical care

• Do not go outside your home unless you need medical care or in the event of an emergency, such as a fire. Do not go to work, school, or public areas, and do not use public transportation, Uber/Lyft, or taxis

Separate yourself from other people in your home as much as possible

• You should stay separated from other people that live in your household as much as possible, especially if you have extensive lesions that cannot be easily covered, draining/weeping lesions, or respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, sore throat, runny nose)
• You should stay alone in a separate bedroom and use a separate bathroom if possible. If it is not possible to use a separate bathroom, the bathroom should be disinfected after each use
  
• Avoid sharing household items. Do not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, bedding, or other items with other people in your home. After using items for eating and drinking, wash them thoroughly with soap and water
  
• No visitors should be allowed to visit your residence until a medical professional has confirmed you are no longer contagious
  

 

If you must be in the same room as other people in your household,

• Wear a well-fitting face mask
  
• If you are not able to wear a face mask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then people who live with you should not stay in the same room with you, or they should wear a face mask if they enter your room and try to keep 6 feet or more apart from you
  
• Cover skin lesions
  
• You should cover skin lesions to the best extent possible (e.g., long sleeves, long pants, gloves) to minimize risk of contact with others
  

 

Separate yourself from animals in your home as much as possible

• Avoid contact with animals (specifically mammals), including pets
• If possible, friends or family members should care for healthy animals until the owner has fully recovered
• Keep any potentially infectious bandages, textiles (such as clothes, bedding) and other items away from pets, other domestic animals, and wildlife
• In general, any mammal may become infected with mpox. It is not thought that other animals such as reptiles, fish or birds can be infected
  
• If you notice an animal that had contact with an infected person appears sick (such as lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, bloating, nasal or eye secretions or crust, fever, rash) contact the owner’s veterinarian, state public health veterinarian, or state animal health official
  
• Detailed guidance from the CDC for household cleaning and disinfection of mpox virus can be found here
  

 

Notifying Close Contacts

If you have had close contact with someone since you developed symptoms of mpox, and you think they may have been exposed to the virus, let them know that they will be contacted by the Department of Public Health (DPH) about active monitoring for the 21 days following their last exposure. Until they hear from DPH, please instruct them to monitor their temperature twice daily. If symptoms (e.g., new skin rash, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes) develop, they should immediately self-isolate and contact DPH at 1-866-PUB-HLTH for further guidance.