28 May 24
Ending HIV
What you need to know about mpox
UPDATED: 21 August 2024
There are now a growing number of mpox cases within NSW, with local transmission recorded.
If you haven’t already, get two doses of the mpox vaccine, 28 days apart. Be on the lookout for symptoms and seek medical care and testing if you start to experience them.
You can stay safe by:
- Avoiding close contact with people who have mpox or mpox symptoms
- Avoiding contact with materials that have been used by someone with mpox, such as bedding or towels
- Exchanging contact information with sexual partners
- Washing or sanitising hands regularly
What is mpox?
Mpox is an infection caused by the monkeypox virus, that causes a rash. It is spread by skin-to-skin contact with someone who has mpox, including during sex and through sexual networks. Since May 2022, there have been cases of mpox reported from multiple countries where mpox is not usually seen. Most of the cases are in men who have sex with men.
Recently in Australia, there has been an outbreak of mpox. A number of cases have been detected in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and their surrounding areas. You can read more and keep up to date with the latest on mpox from ACON here.
What are the symptoms of mpox?
Symptoms of mpox include skin lesions, sores or a rash and rectal pain, alongside early symptoms such as a fever or chills, headaches, muscle and back aches, tiredness and swollen lymph nodes.
The rash, lesions or sores may be in areas that are hard to see such as the genitals and anus, anal area or in the mouth. They may also be on the face, arm, chest, back and legs.
The rash, lesions or sores may vary from person to person – for some it can look like pimples, for others they may resemble blisters. Rashes may also look like herpes or syphilis.
Most people develop symptoms 3-21 days after exposure.
People may experience all or only a few of these symptoms. People who are already vaccinated against mpox may only have very mild symptoms. Most people with mpox will get a rash, while others may develop sores before developing flu-like symptoms. Some may not develop any flu-like symptoms at all.
How is mpox transmitted?
Unlike other viruses such as COVID-19, mpox does not spread easily from person to person, so the risk to the population remains low.
Mpox is transmitted through close physical contact with someone who has symptoms. People with mpox may transmit the infection up to 4 days before symptoms start. This includes through:
- Skin rashes, lesions or sores
- Bodily fluids (such as semen, pus or blood from skin lesions)
- Scabs
- Ulcers, lesions or sores in the mouth (meaning the virus can spread through kissing)
- Ulcers, lesions or sores in and around the anal area and anus
Mpox is mainly passed on during sex. It is not known how long mpox remains present in semen and other genital excretions.
Clothing, linens, or objects that have come into contact with a person who has mpox can also present as a risk for onward transmission.
You can also acquire mpox when a person with mpox has respiratory symptoms and sneezes or coughs and you inhale infected droplets, although this is rare.
It’s important to remember that mpox can continue to spread to others until the lesions and any rectal pain resolve. You may be infectious until all the lesions have crusted, all the scabs have fallen off and a fresh layer of skin has formed. People who have recovered from mpox should use condoms when engaging in sexual activity for 12 weeks after recovery.
Get the mpox vaccine in NSW
All sexually active gay, bisexual men and men who have sex with men (cis and trans), as well as anyone who has sex with these men, including women (cis and trans), non-binary people, and sex workers are eligible to get the vaccine for free without a Medicare card.
Two doses are required. Anyone who has only received one dose of the vaccine should get a second dose at least 28 days after the first.
Find out where you can get the vaccine via NSW Health here.
While no vaccine is completely effective in preventing mpox, being vaccinated can greatly reduce the severity of symptoms experienced.
A Post-Exposure Preventative Vaccination (PEPV) for mpox is recommended for people who are not fully vaccinated with two doses and have been exposed to mpox. Get a PEPV for mpox ideally within 4 days of exposure, although administration up to 14 days after may decrease the severity of symptoms. You should still get vaccinated even if it’s longer than 14 days since your last contact with someone who has mpox.
Currently, people who are fully vaccinated with two doses, including those who are severely immunocompromised, do not require booster doses of the mpox vaccine.
What should I do if I develop symptoms or have been exposed to mpox?
If you develop any symptoms or have been exposed to mpox:
- Call the NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624
- Avoid contact with others and seek medical attention immediately
- Call your doctor or local sexual health clinic via phone or use telehealth services
- Monitor any current symptoms or if any should develop
- If you have not been fully vaccinated with two doses, get a Post-Exposure Preventative Vaccination (PEPV) for mpox
Remember:
- Do not attend a health service in the first instance – call first
- Avoid public transport
- Wear a surgical mask if you have sores in the mouth or throat or respiratory symptoms
- Wash or sanitise your hands regularly
- Cover any lesions with clothing or dressings. Ask your doctor or clinic what type of skin dressing to use.
- Avoid sex or being intimate with anyone until examined
- Avoid gatherings, particularly if they involve close, skin-to-skin contact with other people
For more information for people who have been in contact with mpox, visit NSW Health here.
How is mpox diagnosed and treated?
Mpox is diagnosed by swabs taken from affected areas.
Most people with mpox have a mild illness meaning that it resolves within a few weeks without specific treatment.
There are some therapies available for the treatment of mpox, particularly for people at high-risk, such as those who are immunosuppressed.
Am I at greater risk if I’m HIV-positive?
Evidence on mpox in people living with HIV is very limited. Most of this is based on research in countries where access to treatment is low and where people experience far more negative health outcomes than in Australia.
At the moment, people living with HIV should follow the same health advice as the general population. Should new evidence emerge that impacts people living with HIV, then updated information and advice will be made available.
If you have recently travelled interstate or overseas
If you have recently travelled from Queensland, Victoria, or within New South Wales, keep an eye out for symptoms for 21 days from your departure. During this time, consider having a break from sex until the end of the incubation period.
If you develop any symptoms, particularly an unusual rash, lesions or sores, seek medical advice immediately.
Call the NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624 or call your doctor or local sexual health clinic via phone or telehealth.
If needed, you can access an interpreter whenever you call a NSW Health service, just ask for an interpreter once you have called your service and they will connect you, or sometimes they may call you back.
Remember: do not attend a health service in the first instance – be sure to call first.
If you are planning to travel overseas
If you are planning to travel overseas, especially to a known mpox hotspot such as areas in Europe, Africa, or North America, it is important to stay informed and remain aware of developments:
- Get fully vaccinated well before you travel if you are able. People travelling to locations with known mpox outbreaks are considered at high risk and are eligible to get the vaccine. Be sure you allow enough time to get two doses before travel.
- Follow public health alerts and advice from local health authorities of the countries you are visiting.
- Keep alert of any event updates (before and after) from organisers if you are visiting festivals or large events.
- Be aware and exercise caution if you plan to attend sex parties or SOPVs, particularly in places where there are identified cases of mpox. If attending these, consider adopting safe sex strategies to reduce your risk of mpox transmission.
- Visit WHO for an updated list of affected destinations.
- Visit Smart Traveller for travel alerts.
You can reduce your risk of contracting mpox overseas:
- Avoid contact, including sexual contact, with people who are unwell or have mpox symptoms.
- Avoid skin-to-skin contact, particularly with any rash, lesions or sores.
- Avoid contact with clothing, bedding or objects that have been in contact with or used by people with mpox.
- Wash your hands regularly.
If you develop any symptoms overseas, self-isolate and seek local medical attention immediately.
Where can I get more information?
Here are some sources of information:
NSW Health – Factsheet on Mpox
Australian Department of Health – Information Page on Mpox
World Health Organization page on Mpox
You can also call the NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624.
NSW Health information factsheets available in: