Monkeypox

Monkeypox is a viral disease. It’s not very infectious. You are most likely to get infected if you have had close contact with someone from a country with a known monkeypox outbreak. Monkeypox doesn’t spread very easily from person to person.

When monkeypox does spread, it spreads through: 

• Close body contact or sex 
• Kissing 
• Clothing, bedding, or towels 
• Direct contact with monkeypox skin lesions or scabs 
• Spit droplets spread by a person talking, breathing, coughing, or sneezing 

If you have monkeypox, you might notice these symptoms first: 

• Headache 
• Fever 
• Chills 
• Swelling under your armpits 
• Achy muscles and body 
• Backache 
• Tiredness 

After that, you might notice: 

• A spreading rash 

The monkeypox rash usually starts a few days after infection. It starts at the place of infection, and then spreads to other parts of the body.

You might get a rash on:

• The palms of your hands
• The soles of your feet
• Inside your mouth
• Your genitals or anus, or around your genitals or anus

We don’t offer testing for monkeypox.   

Te Whatu Ora has information about monkeypox, and testing for monkeypox. 

Condoms, and oral dams are good protection against monkeypox — but they don’t necessarily prevent monkeypox transmission. This is because monkeypox can also be passed from person to through skin-to-skin contact, contact with a monkeypox case’s lesions, or contact with clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with monkeypox.

Te Whatu Ora has information about monkeypox, and how to protect yourself from monkeypox. 

If you have monkeypox symptoms, particularly a rash, you should isolate from others. Make an appointment with your nurse or doctor. Wear a mask. If you have a rash or blisters, make sure they are covered. It’s important to avoid close contact — including sex — until you get treatment from your nurse or doctor.