How does mpox spread?

Mpox spreads through close, sustained physical contact with someone who has mpox, including intimate or sexual contact, hugging, kissing, or touching mpox lesions. It can also spread through respiratory secretions during prolonged face-to-face contact, touching contaminated materials (bedding, towels, clothing), and rarely from pregnant person to fetus.

What does the mpox rash look like?

Mpox rash progresses through stages: flat spots → raised bumps → fluid-filled blisters → pus-filled blisters → scabs. Lesions can be painful and may look like pimples, blisters, or syphilis sores. The 2022 outbreak often showed lesions concentrated on genital/anal areas, mouth, throat, or hands/feet. Rash lasts 2-4 weeks.

Who is at highest risk for mpox?

Higher risk groups include: men who have sex with men (especially those with multiple partners), people with HIV (particularly if CD4 count is low), people who've had close contact with someone with mpox, sex workers, and healthcare workers treating mpox patients without proper PPE.

Is there a vaccine for mpox?

Yes, the JYNNEOS vaccine is FDA-approved for mpox prevention. It's given as 2 doses, 4 weeks apart. The vaccine is recommended for people at high risk of exposure and can be given after known exposure to prevent or reduce severity.

Most people recover without specific treatment with supportive care. For severe cases or immunocompromised people, the antiviral tecovirimat (TPOXX) may be used. Isolation is required until all lesions have healed and new skin has formed (typically 2-4 weeks).

Where are mpox cases occurring now?

After the 2022 global outbreak peak, cases have significantly declined but continue worldwide. The virus remains endemic in parts of Africa where it regularly infects humans through contact with infected animals. Check the live outbreak data above for current mpox activity.

Mpox

Mpox (formerly called monkeypox) is a viral disease that causes a painful rash, swollen lymph nodes, and flu-like symptoms. While endemic in Central and West Africa, it spread globally in 2022, prompting a public health emergency declaration.

Countries Affected

No data

Recent Cases (30d)

Active Outbreaks

N/A

Last Updated

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What is Mpox?

Mpox is caused by the mpox virus, related to the smallpox virus but generally less severe. The 2022-2023 global outbreak primarily affected men who have sex with men, though anyone can get mpox through close contact. A vaccine (JYNNEOS) is available for high-risk individuals.

Symptoms

Painful rash with fluid-filled blisters
Swollen lymph nodes
Fever and chills
Headache and muscle aches
Back pain
Exhaustion
Respiratory symptoms
Rectal pain (if lesions present)

Transmission

Spreads through direct contact with mpox rash, scabs, or body fluids; respiratory secretions during prolonged close contact; contaminated items; sexual/intimate contact

Contagious Period: From symptom onset until rash fully healed (2-4 weeks)

Prevention

JYNNEOS vaccine for high-risk individuals
Avoid close contact with infected people
Practice safer sex during outbreaks
Don't share bedding, towels, or clothing
Frequent handwashing
PPE when caring for infected individuals
Isolate if infected until fully healed

Active Outbreaks & Recent Cases

Real-time intelligence from global health monitoring and AI-powered surveillance

Data sources: BEACON, ProMED, WHO, CDC, and 50+ national health agencies

No Active Outbreaks Detected

Our AI-powered surveillance hasn't detected significant Mpox activity in the past 30 days.

Real-time monitoring continues 24/7 across BEACON, ProMED, WHO, CDC, and 50+ global health agencies

What This Means

Currently, Mpox case counts are within baseline expectations globally. However, diseases can emerge rapidly, which is why continuous monitoring is critical.

Stay Prepared

Download the Virus Watcher app to get instant alerts if Mpox activity increases in your region or travel destinations.

Prevention Remains Important

Even without active outbreaks, understanding Mpox prevention helps protect you and your community:

JYNNEOS vaccine for high-risk individuals
Avoid close contact with infected people
Practice safer sex during outbreaks
Don't share bedding, towels, or clothing
Frequent handwashing
PPE when caring for infected individuals
Isolate if infected until fully healed

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Expert Resources & References

Trusted information from leading health organizations

CDC

Official guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

View CDC Resources →

WHO

Global disease surveillance and guidelines from the World Health Organization

View WHO Resources →

Research

Latest peer-reviewed research and clinical studies

View Research →

Medically Reviewed Content

Disease information on Virus Watcher is reviewed by our Chief Epidemiologist, a former CDC lead analyst for FluSight forecasting. Outbreak data is aggregated from verified sources including BEACON, ProMED, WHO, CDC, and 50+ national health agencies. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice.

Last reviewed: 2026-03-05

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Mpox answered by our epidemiology team

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