Mpox
While the risk of mpox to most people remains low, the mpox vaccine is available for San Diego residents who are at risk.
The CDC recommends vaccination for people who have been in close contact with people who have mpox. Currently, this outbreak is mostly affecting gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men. People who may be eligible for vaccination include:
- People who had known or suspected exposure to someone with mpox.
- People who had a sex partner in the past two weeks who was diagnosed with mpox.
- Gay, bisexual, and other MSM, and transgender or nonbinary people (including adolescents who fall into any of these categories) who, in the past six months, have had:
- A new diagnosis of one or more sexually transmitted infections (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis).
- More than one sex partner.
People who have had any of the following in the past six months: - Sex at a commercial sex venue.
- Sex in association with a large public event in a geographic area where mpox transmission is occurring.
- Sex in exchange for money or other items.
- People who are sex partners of people with the above risks.
- People who anticipate experiencing any of the above scenarios.
- People with HIV infection or other causes of immunosuppression who have had recent or anticipate potential mpox exposure.
Schedule an appointment if you think you have been exposed to mpox or are at high risk for exposure.
Mpox is a viral disease. Symptoms include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches and backache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Chills
- Exhaustion
- A rash that can look like pimples or blisters
Mpox is spread through close skin-to-skin contact, including:
- Kissing
- Cuddling
- Sex
- Direct contact with infectious rash, scabs, body fluids – this includes sharing utensils or articles of clothing
Although the most effective way to prevent mpox is to avoid sex of any kind (oral, anal or vaginal) and kissing or touching while sick, there are ways to reduce your risk without total abstinence:
- Have virtual sex with no in-person contact.
- Masturbate together at a distance of at least six feet, without touching each other and without touching any rash.
- Turn on the lights and look for possible signs of infection before having sex.
- Consider having sex with your clothes on or covering areas where rash is present, reducing as much skin-to-skin contact as possible. Condoms alone are likely not enough to prevent mpox.
- Avoid kissing.
- Remember to wash your hands, fetish gear, sex toys and any fabrics (bedding, towels, clothing) after having sex.
- Do not share things like towels, fetish gear, sex toys or toothbrushes.
- Limiting your number of sex partners may reduce the possibility of exposure.
- Avoid touching the rash. Touching the rash can spread it to other parts of the body and may delay healing.
If you feel sick or have a rash, do not attend any gathering, and see a health care provider. Gatherings include:
- A rave, party or club where there is minimal clothing and where there is direct, personal, skin-to-skin contact has some risk. Avoid any rash you see on others and consider minimizing skin-to-skin contact.
- Enclosed spaces, such as back rooms, bath houses, sex clubs or private and public sex parties where sexual contact with multiple partners occurs, may have a higher likelihood of spreading mpox.
Unlike COVID-19, mpox can only be spread when you are experiencing symptoms. However, symptoms can last up to four weeks. You can spread it to others from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed.
- People who had multiple sexual partners in the last 14 days
- People who had a known exposure to someone with confirmed mpox in the last 14 days
- Men who have sex with men
The vaccine is administered in two doses four weeks apart. You’ll be considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose.
- See a health care provider if you notice a new or unexplained rash or other mpox symptoms.
- Avoid close contact with other people and pets.
- If your test result is positive, stay isolated until your rash has healed, all scabs have fallen off and a fresh layer of skin has formed.
A health care provider may prescribe antivirals to treat mpox infections if you are more likely to get severely ill due to another health condition, such as immune suppression.