Mpox

• A rash is always present in mpox and can be very painful.
• Other symptoms can include headaches, fever, muscle aches, sore throat and swollen lymph nodes, which usually appear before a rash.
• People are only contagious when they have symptoms.

If you believe you are infected, contact your primary care provider, call a Cedars-Sinai urgent care location or make an appointment at one of L.A County's Sexual Health Clinics (PDF). 

Before you visit any provider, call ahead so the staff can prepare. Cover any rash areas with clothing and wear a mask. Although there are no treatments specifically for monkeypox, providers may offer treatments to help manage your symptoms. 

You should only go to an emergency room if you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, or pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen.

Although mpox is not highly contagious and is rarely fatal, it can be extremely painful. Basic prevention guidelines work.

• Wash your hands often.
• If someone has symptoms:
  • Avoid close contact, such as kissing, cuddling, having sex, talking closely or touching rashes or scabs. 
  • Avoid contact with any objects that have traces of their bodily fluid, like clothes, towels or sheets.
  • Consult these recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) if someone in your home becomes infected.

• The JYNNEOS vaccine is FDA-approved for prevention of mpox and smallpox. It has been shown to be safe in humans, and data from clinical trials in animals suggest the vaccine should be effective in mpox prevention. However, there currently is no real-world data on vaccine effectiveness.
• The JYNNEOS vaccine is currently managed by L.A. County. Learn more here.
• You may have heard about an investigational treatment called tecovirimat. It's only prescribed to high-risk patients who meet the eligibility criteria. Members of the public cannot request this treatment or obtain it on their own at a pharmacy, hospital emergency department or clinic. 

You can stay up to date on mpox and learn more about the virus, the current outbreak, vaccination, treatments and more from any of these trusted healthcare resources.

• World Health Organization (WHO)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• CDC Travel Notice
• L.A. County Department of Public Health (LACDPH)
• L.A. County Department of Public Health: Weekly Data Snapshot
• L.A. County Department of Public Health (Questions and Resources)
• California Department of Public Health (Prevention)
• California Department of Public Health (Vaccines)
• California Department of Public Health (FAQs)
• California Department of Public Health (Updated case numbers)