Mpox is a disease caused by infection with a virus. The first human case of mpox was recorded in 1970, in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.
People with mpox often get a rash that may be located on the hands, feet, chest, face or mouth or near the genitals and the anus. Other symptoms can include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle aches and backache, headache and respiratory symptoms.
The mpox virus can spread through close, personal contact including direct skin-to-skin contact with mpox rash or scabs or contact with saliva, upper respiratory secretions and bodily fluids or lesions. Pregnant people with mpox can pass the virus to the fetus during pregnancy or to the newborn during and after birth. The virus can also spread though contact with contaminated materials like clothing, towels or bedding.
There are two subtypes of the virus that causes mpox: clade I and clade II. Clade I can cause more severe illness and deaths. In response to the spread of mpox caused by the clade I virus in multiple African countries, the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern in August 2024. Clade II, which usually causes less severe infections, is the virus type that caused a global outbreak of mpox in 2022-2023.
There is no treatment specifically for mpox. But because the viruses that cause mpox and smallpox are closely related, drugs and vaccines developed to treat and protect against smallpox may be effective for mpox. Vaccination is an important tool in preventing the spread of mpox.
Useful Information and Resources
For the Public
For Clinicians
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Mpox Caused by Human-to-Human Transmission of Monkeypox Virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with Spread to Neighboring Countries (CDC HAN Update, Aug. 7, 2024)
- Notes from the Field: Clade II Mpox Surveillance Update — United States, October 2023–April 2024 (CDC, MMWR, May 23, 2024)
- U.S. Preparedness and Response to Increasing Clade I Mpox Cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo — United States, 2024 (CDC, MMWR, May 16, 2024)
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Vaccination
- ASPR/CDC Mpox Vaccination Operational Planning Guide - HHS Mpox Vaccination Program (June 2024)
- Health Resources and Services Administration: Mpox FAQs
- Monkeypox Virus Infections After 2 Preexposure Doses of Jynneos Vaccine — United States, May 2022–May 2024 (CDC, MMWR, May 23, 2024)
- Estimated Effectiveness of Jynneos Vaccine in Preventing Mpox: A Multijurisdictional Case-Control Study — United States, Aug. 19, 2022–March 31, 2023 (CDC, MMWR, May 19, 2023)
- Effectiveness of Jynneos Vaccine Against Diagnosed Mpox Infection — New York, 2022 (CDC, MMWR, May 19, 2023)
- CDC Considerations for Mpox Vaccination
- HHS Mpox Vaccine Distribution by Jurisdiction
- Building Healthy Online Communities Vaccine Locator
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Treatment
- NIH: The Antiviral Tecovirimat Is Safe but Did Not Improve Clade I Mpox Resolution in Democratic Republic of the Congo
- National STD Curriculum Mpox Clinical Guide
- A5418 Clinical Trial Study of Tecovirimat for Human Monkeypox Virus (STOMP)
- CDC Clinical Considerations for Pain Management
- CDC Guidance for Tecovirimat Use Under Expanded Access Investigational New Drug Protocol
- CDC Obtaining and Using TPOXX (Tecovirimat) for Treatment of Mpox
- CDC Dear Colleague Letter on Pain Control
- Epic SmartText Available for Tecovirimat (TPOXX) Form A (Patient Intake Form) and Form B (Clinical Outcome Form): Mass General Brigham has posted to the Epic UserWeb for use by others an Epic SmartText to facilitate completion of Form A (Patient Intake Form) of the Expanded Access - New Investigational Drug protocol required for tecovirimat (TPOXX).
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Department of Health and Human Services/National Institutes of Health Guidelines
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Key Populations
- People With HIV, Children and Adolescents and People Who Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding (CDC HAN Update, July 30, 2022)
- CDC Clinical Considerations for Treatment and Prophylaxis of Mpox Infection in People With HIV
- CDC Clinical Considerations for Mpox in Children and Adolescents
- CDC Clinical Considerations for Mpox in People Who Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding
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Infection Prevention & Control
Public Policy, Advocacy and Action
- IDSA and HIVMA Letter to White House Office of Science and Technology Policy on Research Priorities – August 1, 2022
- HHS Monkeypox Letter – July 22, 2022 sent by IDSA with 40 stakeholder groups signing
- MPV Federal Funding Letter to Congress – July 19, 2022
- IDSA/HIVMA Statement: Stigma Has No Place in Public Health – May 26, 2022