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, 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.

Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, has partnered with UBER to provide free roundtrip rides (up to $30 each way) to MPXV (mpox virus) vaccination sites. To receive a Uber voucher, complete the form here:
https://go.eqca.org/a/mpxv-rides

• 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.