Monkeypox - What It Is, Causes, How It Is Spread, Symptoms, How It Is Diagnosed, Treatments & More
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. The monkeypox virus is in the same family of viruses as the smallpox virus. But monkeypox is less contagious than smallpox. And its disease causes milder symptoms and is usually not fatal.
In the past, most of the people who got monkeypox lived in certain parts of central and western Africa, had traveled there, or had been exposed to infected animals imported from there. During the 2022 outbreak, the disease has been found in people who live in other countries, including the United States.
How does monkeypox spread?
Monkeypox spreads in different ways:
When you are in close contact with someone who has the virus:
Through direct contact with their rash, scabs, or body fluids
By breathing in the virus during prolonged, face-to-face contact or during intimate physical contact such as kissing, cuddling, or sex
From touching items (such as clothes, bedding, or towels) that were used by someone who has the virus
During pregnancy, from the pregnant parent to the baby
From infected animals:
By being scratched or bitten by the animal
By preparing or eating meat or using products from the animal
Someone who has monkeypox can spread it from the time their symptoms start until their rash has fully healed. This can take several weeks. People who do not have monkeypox symptoms cannot spread the virus to others. At this time, it is not known if monkeypox can spread through semen or vaginal fluids.
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?
The symptoms of monkeypox may include:
Fever.
Headache.
Muscle aches and backache.
Swollen lymph nodes ("swollen glands").
Chills.
Exhaustion.
A rash with sores that can look like pimples or blisters. It could be on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus. It goes through different stages before healing completely. This can take several weeks.
Sometimes, people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others may only get a rash.
How is monkeypox diagnosed?
To find out if you have monkeypox, your provider:
Will ask about your symptoms and health history.
Will look at your rash.
Will take a sample of tissue from one of the sores so it can be tested for monkeypox virus.
May do blood tests to check for monkeypox virus or for antibodies to the virus. Antibodies are proteins that your immune system makes to fight foreign substances, such as viruses and bacteria.
What are the treatments for monkeypox?
There are no specific treatments for monkeypox, but many people get better on their own.
Since monkeypox and smallpox are similar, antiviral medicines and vaccines that protect against smallpox may also help treat and prevent monkeypox. Antiviral medicines may be recommended for people who are more likely to get severely ill, such as patients who have weakened immune systems.
Can monkeypox be prevented?
There are steps you can take to help prevent monkeypox:
Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with the monkeypox rash. So, while a person is sick with monkeypox:
Do not touch their rash or scabs.
Do not kiss, hug, cuddle, or have sex with them.
Do not share eating utensils or cups with them.
Do not touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person who has monkeypox.
Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after contact with sick people.
In Central and West Africa, avoid contact with animals that can spread monkeypox virus, such as rodents and primates. Also, avoid sick or dead animals, as well as any bedding or other materials they have touched.
If you are sick with monkeypox, you should isolate at home. If you have an active rash or other symptoms, you should be in a separate room from your family members and pets when possible.
The U.S. government has two vaccines in the U.S. to protect against monkeypox. One was originally approved for smallpox, and the other was approved for smallpox and monkeypox. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend widespread vaccination against monkeypox at this time. However, vaccination may be recommended for people who:
Are close personal contacts of people with monkeypox
May have been exposed to the virus
May have increased risk of being exposed to the virus, such as people who perform laboratory testing to diagnose monkeypox
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