Mpo​​x

Mpox is a viral infection first identified in 1958. Since spring 2022, there has been an increase in mpox (formerly monkeypox) cases in many parts of the world including here in California. Currently, the risk of getting mpox is low for the public. For more information, vi​sit CDPH’s Mpox homepage and Q&A.   

How it’s Sp​read

Mpox is primarily spread by close physical contact and touching (hugging, kissing, intimate/sexual contact) with someone who may or may not have visible symptoms. It can also spread by sharing items (clothing, towels, sex toys/fetish gear, bedding) used by someone who has mpox or through prolonged face-to-face interaction with someone who has mpox. In some instances, mpox can be spread up to 4 days before symptoms start.

Signs and Sym​​ptoms

The virus can cause flu-like symptoms and/or a distinct rash that can be bumpy or fluid-filled on the face, body, genitals, arms, and legs. Rash and sores may also be limited to one part of the body. Symptoms can start 3–21 days after​​ exposure.

If you have symptoms, isolate from others and contact a health care provider right away to get tested and learn about treatment options. If you've been exposed or believe you have been exposed, reach out to a health care provider  to ask about vaccination to prevent or reduce illness severity.

Prevention

There are a number of ways to prevent the spread of mpox and lower your chance of getting mpox. Vaccination, when combined with other prevention measures, is the most effective way to reduce transmission of mpox virus and prevent disease, hospitalization, and/or death. Vaccination can also be given after an mpox exposure to prevent infection or decrease the severity of mpox illness if given within the first 4–14 days of exposure.

Other prevention strategies include:

• Having open conversations with your sexual partner/s about any recent illness or symptoms, any possible exposures to mpox, and being aware of new or unexplained sores or rashes on your body or your partner’s body, including on the genitals and anus.

• Avoiding close contact, including hugging, kissing, cuddling, and sexual activity with people who have mpox and people who were exposed and are in their 21-day monitoring period.​
  

• Not sharing materials (bedding, towels, clothing, utensils, cups) with someone who has mpox.

• Washing your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) like a mask, gown, and gloves when caring for others with mpox symptoms. ​
  

For the latest information and updates, visit the CDPH mpox webpage.​

Resou​​rces:

• Latest CDC Fact Sheets

• Reducing Stigma in Communication and Engagement (CDC)

• Safer Sex, Social Gatherings, and Mpox (CDC)

• Mpox Large Gatherings and Social Events Toolkit (CDC)

• Information for Healthcare Professionals (CDC)

• CDC’s Mpox Large Gatherings and Social Events Toolkit for Health Departments​

• ​​​Event Organizer Letter Template (PDF)​
  

CDPH Material Co-brand Disclaimer CDPH Material Co-brand Disclaimer ​​

Local health jurisdictions (LHJs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) may co-brand materials created by CDPH (those in CDPH Office of Communications Toolkits​) by adding their agency logo next to or near the CDPH logo. Be sure there is ample space between the two logos. Materials may not be altered or edited in any other way, including removal or adjustment of the CDPH logo.​

Toolkit Co​​ntents

Use this toolkit to help the general public understand mpox. This material is downloadable and shareable. 

​For digit​​al ads and customizable materials geared for the priority population visit the campaign toolkit.​​

• Videos
• Fact Sheets
• Social Media - English
• Social Media - Spanish​
  
• Let’s Talk Mpox Q&A Campaign <--Click on this link to access the mpox Q&A social media campaign
  
• General Information​​​

Videos

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Get both doses of the mpox vaccine for maximum protection.​

Dr. Leandro Mena, director de la División de Prevención de Enfermedades de Transmisión Sexual de los CDC, te recuerda que maximices tu protección contra la viruela símica y te pongas la segunda dosis de la vacuna.

Fact Sheets 

​ What is Mpox? 2-page 8.5x11 English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) | Arabic (PDF) | Armenian (PDF) | Chinese, Simplified (PDF) | Chinese, Traditional (PDF) | Hmong (PDF) | Khmer (PDF) | Korean (PDF) | Punjabi (PDF) | Russian (PDF) | Tagalog (PDF) | Thai (PDF) | Vietnamese (PDF)	Pregnancy & Mpox​​ English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) | Arabic (PDF) | Armenian (PDF) | Chinese, Simplified (PDF) | Chinese, Traditional (PDF) | Hmong (PDF) | Khmer (PDF) | Korean (PDF) | Punjabi (PDF) | Russian (PDF) | Tagalog (PDF) | Thai (PDF) | Vietnamese (PDF) ​
​ Safer Sex & Mpox English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) | Arabic (PDF) | Armenian (PDF) | Chinese, Simplified (PDF) | Chinese, Traditional (PDF) | Hmong (PDF) | Khmer (PDF) | Korean (PDF) | Punjabi (PDF) | Russian (PDF) | Tagalog (PDF) | Thai (PDF) | Vietnamese (PDF)	​

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Suggested Messaging:

Though risk of mpox is low,  the virus is still circulating in California and in the US. You can take simple steps to protect yourself from mpox.

Learn more about mpox at: go.cdph.ca.gov/mpox

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​Suggested Messaging: Do you have a new or unexplained rash, sores, or other symptoms of #mpox? Avoid contact with others and reach out to a health care provider immediately about testing and treatment options. Learn more about mpox at go.cdph.ca.gov/mpox

​Suggested Messaging:  How can you lower the ​chance of getting mpox at places like parties, clubs, and festivals? Find out mpox case levels in your location from a trusted source, like your local health department. Get your two-dose vaccine series before attending any gathering where mpox may be present to reduce your risk of severe illness. Consider how much close, personal, skin-to-skin contact is likely to occur at the event. If you feel sick or have any rashes or sores, do not attend any in-person gatherings and see a health care provider right away. Learn more about mpox and how you can protect yourself and others: go.cdph.ca.gov/mpox

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Suggested Messaging:

When present, mpox symptoms can be flu-like with a rash and sores throughout the body. The virus spreads primarily through close skin-to-skin contact (hugging, kissing, sexual/intimate contact) and sharing materials (bedding, towels, clothing) with someone who has mpox. In some cases, people can spread mpox even before they develop visible symptoms. Symptoms usually appear 3–21 days after an exposure.

If you notice symptoms, avoid in-person contact with others and talk to a health care provider about testing and treatment options. If needing to be around others, cover sores and wear a mask to avoid spreading the virus.

For more information about mpox, visit go.cdp​​h.ca.gov/mpox

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​Suggested Messaging: If you’ve been exposed to mpox: Call a health care provider or your local health department as soon as you know you've been exposed. If you’ve had a high-risk exposure (like from someone you live with or direct contact with a rash/sore), the vaccine should be given within the first 4–14 days from exposure to help protect against disease or reduce its severity. Monitor for any new symptoms for 21 days after your last exposure. If you develop symptoms, reach out to a health care provider for testing and potential treatment options. For more information, visit go.cdph.ca.gov/mpox

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​Suggested Messaging: The risk of getting mpox is still low. However, it's important to be aware of symptoms, if present, especially for those at higher risk for severe illness. If you notice symptoms, such as a flu-like illness and a rash and sores, avoid close contact with others and reach out to a health care provider right away about testing and treatment options. ​ If you have been recently exposed, or think you could be in the future, you can also ask your health care provider about getting the mpox vaccine to reduce your risk of getting very sick from mpox.. For more information, visit go.cdph.ca.gov/mpox​

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Suggested Messaging:

Aunque el riesgo del mpox es bajo, el virus sigue circulando en California y en los Estados Unidos. Puede tomar medidas sencillas para protegerse del mpox. Obtenga más información sobre el mpox en: go.cdph.ca.gov/mpox

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​Suggested Messaging: ¿Tiene una erupción nueva o inexplicable, ampollas u otros síntomas de #mpox? Evite el contacto con otras personas y acuda inmediatamente a un médico para que le indique las pruebas y las opciones de tratamiento. Obtenga más información sobre el mpox engo.cdph.ca.gov/mpox

​Suggested Messaging:  ¿Cómo se puedenreducir las probabilidades de contraer el virus del mpox en lugares como fiestas, discotecas y festivales? Averigüe los niveles de casos de mpox en su localidad a través de una fuente de confianza, como el departamento de salud local. Reciba su serie de dos dosis de vacuna antes de asistir a cualquier reunión en la que pueda haber mpox para reducir el riesgo de enfermarse gravemente. Tenga en cuenta el grado de contacto personal, piel con piel, que es probable que se produzca durante el acto. Si se encuentra mal o tiene alguna erupción o ampolla, no asista a ninguna reunión en persona y acuda inmediatamente a un médico. Obtenga más información sobre el mpox y cómo puede protegerse y proteger a los demás:go.cdph.ca.gov/mpox

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Suggested Messaging:

Cuando se presentan, los síntomas del mpox pueden ser similares a los de la gripe, con erupciones y ampollas por todo el cuerpo. El virus se propaga principalmente a través del contacto de piel con piel (abrazos, besos, contacto sexual/íntimo) y compartiendo materiales (ropa de cama, toallas, prendas de vestir) con alguien que tenga mpox. En algunos casos, las personas pueden contagiar el mpox incluso antes de desarrollar síntomas visibles. Los síntomas suelen aparecer entre 3 y 21 días después de la exposición.

Si nota síntomas, evite el contacto directo con otras personas y hable con un profesional médico sobre las pruebas y las opciones de tratamiento. Si tiene que estar cerca de otras personas, cúbrase las llagas y póngase una mascarilla para evitar la propagación del virus.

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​Suggested Messaging: Si ha estado expuesto al mpox: Llame a un profesional médico o al departamento de salud local en cuanto sepa que ha estado expuesto. Si ha tenido una exposición de alto riesgo (como la de alguien con quien vive o el contacto directo con una erupción/ampolla), la vacuna debe administrarse en los primeros 4-14 días desde la exposición para ayudar a protegerlo contra la enfermedad o reducir su gravedad. Vigile cualquier síntoma nuevo durante 21 días después de su última exposición. Si presenta síntomas, acuda a un médico para que le realice pruebas y le ofrezca opciones de tratamiento. Para más información, visite go.cdph.ca.gov/mpox​

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​Suggested Messaging: El riesgo de contraer mpox sigue siendo bajo. Sin embargo, es importante estar atento a los síntomas que se presenten, especialmente en el caso de las personas con mayor riesgo de enfermarse gravemente. Si nota síntomas, como los de una enfermedad parecida a la gripe y erupciones y llagas, evite el contacto cercano con otras personas y acuda inmediatamente a un proveedor de atención médica para que lo informe sobre las pruebas y las opciones de tratamiento. Si ha estado expuesto recientemente, o cree que podría estarlo en el futuro, también puede preguntar a su proveedor de atención médica sobre la posibilidad de recibir la vacuna contra el mpox para reducir el riesgo de enfermarse. Para más información, visite go.cdph.ca.gov/mpox​

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