The essentials

Mpox (monkeypox) is a viral infection that causes a painful rash, often with fever and swollen lymph nodes. It spreads mainly through close skin-to-skin contact, including sex, and usually clears in 2 to 4 weeks. It is confirmed by a PCR test on a swab of a skin lesion, not by a routine blood test. A vaccine, MVA-BN (JYNNEOS in the US), protects people at risk. WHO still treats mpox as a graded emergency in 2026, though the international emergency was lifted in September 2025.

What is mpox, at a glance?

  • Cause: the monkeypox virus, an orthopoxvirus related to the virus that caused smallpox. Mpox is much milder and is still circulating[1].
  • Two clades: clade I (subclades Ia and Ib) and clade II (IIa and IIb). The 2022 global outbreak was caused by clade IIb[1].
  • How common: from January 2025 to July 2026, 105 countries reported 65,784 confirmed cases and 264 deaths to WHO[2].
  • How serious: most people recover with care at home. In July 2026, 0.5% of confirmed cases reported worldwide died[2]; deaths occur mostly in people with a severely weakened immune system[7].
  • Key test: a PCR test on a swab of a skin lesion[1][6], usually with tests for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections[7].

What are the first symptoms of mpox?

Symptoms usually begin within a week of exposure, but can start 1 to 21 days after[1]. In a study of 528 people from the 2022 outbreak, the median was 7 days[10].

  • Common A rash, found in 95% of people in that study. Lesions were often few (10 or fewer in 64%) and in the genital or anal area (73%)[10]. The rash can also appear on the face, hands, feet, chest or in the mouth[1].
  • Common Fever (62%), tiredness (41%), muscle aches (31%) and headache (27%), often before the rash; swollen lymph nodes in 56%[10].
  • Possible Sore throat, back pain[1], and rectal pain or bleeding when lesions are inside the anus[5].
  • Rare Eye lesions, heart inflammation (myocarditis) or kidney injury; each was a reason for hospital stay in 2 of the 528 people[10].

How the rash evolves. Each lesion goes through stages: flat spots, raised bumps, fluid-filled blisters, then deep pus-filled bumps that often have a dip in the center, before scabbing. The pustule stage lasts about 5 to 7 days, and scabs stay about a week before falling off[5]. The whole illness typically lasts 2 to 4 weeks[5]. A person stays contagious until all scabs have fallen off and new skin has formed[1][5].

Mpox lesions are easy to confuse with genital herpes, syphilis, chickenpox, shingles, molluscum contagiosum or scabies[7]. Only a test tells them apart.

When should I see a doctor for a possible mpox rash?

When to see a doctor

  • Emergency: call 911 for trouble breathing, confusion, a stiff neck, chest pain, a painful red eye or vision changes, being unable to swallow or to pass urine, or a rash that spreads fast in someone with a weak immune system.
  • Within 24 to 48 hours for a new or unexplained rash, sores in the genital, anal or mouth area, or fever with swollen lymph nodes, especially after close contact with someone who has mpox. Call ahead, avoid close contact and wear a mask on the way[4]. Someone who is pregnant, a child, or living with poorly controlled HIV should be seen without delay[7].
  • At your next appointment to ask whether you should get the vaccine, or to plan regular HIV and STI testing.

How does mpox spread, and who is at risk?

The virus passes through close contact with an infected person: skin to skin, mouth to skin or mouth to mouth, and face-to-face contact. It can also spread through contaminated clothing or bedding, from animals, and from mother to baby during pregnancy or birth[1].

  • Common Sexual contact. In 2022, transmission was suspected to be sexual in 95% of cases, nearly all among gay or bisexual men[10]. Having several sexual partners raises the risk of catching it[1].
  • Possible Household contact, which often follows sexual spread and can lead to community outbreaks[2].
  • Rare Needle injuries in health care, or bites and scratches from infected animals[1].

Higher risk of severe illness: people with a severely weakened immune system (for example HIV with a CD4 count below 200, or an organ transplant), people with eczema or other skin conditions, children, and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding[7].

What are clades I and II, and is mpox still an emergency in 2026?

WHO has declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern twice: in 2022, for the clade IIb outbreak, and in August 2024, for the spread of clade I in Africa[1]. The second emergency ended on September 5, 2025, after cases and deaths fell steadily; WHO warned that this did not mean the threat was over[3].

In September 2026, WHO still considered the multi-country outbreak a graded emergency and extended its standing recommendations until August 2027. In July 2026, 32 countries reported 1,370 confirmed cases, about three quarters of them in Africa (Madagascar first). All clades are still circulating. Clade Ib has spread within communities in several European countries, including among men who have sex with men, and the global risk is rated moderate[2].

Both clades look the same on the skin and are tested, treated and prevented the same way[5].

How is mpox diagnosed, and how do I read the results?

The preferred test detects the virus's DNA by PCR. The best sample is a firm swab of the rash: skin, fluid or crusts. Throat or anal swabs can be used when there are no skin lesions[1]. In the US, two swabs are usually taken from each of 2 or 3 lesions, and results take 2 to 4 days[6]. Here is a fictitious report.

Fictitious example of a lab report (United States format)
TestResultReference rangeFlag
Monkeypox virus DNA, real-time PCR (lesion swab, groin)DetectedNot detectedA
Monkeypox virus clade, PCRClade IINot applicable
HIV-1/2 antigen and antibody (4th generation)NonreactiveNonreactive
Treponema pallidum antibody (syphilis)NonreactiveNonreactive
Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae NAAT (urine)Not detectedNot detected
  1. Monkeypox virus DNA, flagged A: "detected" confirms mpox[6]. Some labs report "orthopoxvirus DNA", the virus family that includes monkeypox virus; your doctor reads it with your symptoms. If the result is "not detected", ask whether another cause of the rash has been tested.
  2. Clade: not always done. A second swab is kept in case clade testing is needed[6]. It does not change your care.
  3. HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea: CDC advises testing for these in every sexually active adult and adolescent with suspected or confirmed mpox[7]. In 2022, 29% of people tested had another sexually transmitted infection at the same time[10]. See our guides to the HIV test and STI testing.

Your report mixes a PCR result, HIV and syphilis tests and maybe a blood count? BloodSense reads every line of your complete report, explains what each result means and helps you prepare your questions for your doctor.

Get my full report explained

Why a blood test is not the main test. WHO does not recommend blood testing to diagnose mpox[1]: the virus is found mainly in the lesions, which is why the swab comes first. Antibody tests (IgM and IgG) may not help, because they cannot tell mpox from other orthopoxviruses[1]. A complete blood count or CRP may be ordered for a severe illness or a skin infection, but these results neither confirm nor rule out mpox. More on how PCR works in our PCR test guide.

What follow-up is needed after mpox?

Most people are followed by phone or at a clinic until all lesions have healed and new skin has formed, which is when the person stops being contagious[1]. Follow-up focuses on pain, signs of a skin infection, and the eyes, mouth and anus. If an HIV test was positive, antiretroviral treatment should start within 7 days of the diagnosis, and people already on it should continue[1].

How is mpox treated?

No doses are given here: your medical team decides.

  • Supportive care: pain relief, care of the rash, fluids, and antibiotics if lesions become infected. Most people recover with this alone[1][8].
  • Tecovirimat: an antiviral approved in the US for smallpox[13]. Two large trials found it did not speed healing. In clade I mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, lesions resolved in a median of 7 days with it and 8 days with placebo[12]. In clade II mpox, 83% of patients on tecovirimat and 84% on placebo had recovered by day 29[13]. In the US it remains available, through a CDC protocol, for people with or at high risk of severe illness[8].
  • Severe cases: other drugs (brincidofovir, cidofovir, vaccinia immune globulin) may be considered by specialists[8].

How can I prevent mpox, and who should get the vaccine?

MVA-BN (sold as JYNNEOS in the US) is given in 2 doses, 28 days apart[9]. In a US study, two doses were 66% effective against mpox and one dose 36%[11]. WHO recommends vaccination for people at high risk, especially during outbreaks: health workers, close contacts, people with several sexual partners (including men who have sex with men) and sex workers[1]. Another vaccine, LC16m8, is also used in outbreak response[2].

  • After an exposure, get vaccinated within 4 days, or up to 14 days if you have no symptoms[1].
  • Complete the 2-dose course: the second dose gives better protection[11].
  • If you have mpox, avoid sex and close contact, cover lesions, and do not share towels, bedding or clothes until all scabs are gone[1].

Questions to ask your doctor

  1. Could my rash be mpox, or another infection such as herpes or syphilis?
  2. Which lesions will you swab, and when will I get the result?
  3. Should I also be tested for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea?
  4. Until when must I avoid close contact, and how do I protect the people I live with?
  5. Which symptoms mean I should go to the emergency room?
  6. Should I or my partners get the vaccine?

Frequently asked questions

Is mpox the same as monkeypox?

Yes. WHO renamed the disease "mpox"; the virus is still called monkeypox virus[1]. Some US agencies have gone back to "monkeypox"[4].

Can you get mpox without having sex?

Yes. Any close skin contact, a shared bed or towels, or face-to-face contact can pass it on, which is how it spreads in households[1].

Does the smallpox vaccine protect against mpox?

MVA-BN was developed against smallpox and is used against mpox[9]. An old smallpox vaccination scar is not a reason to skip the recommended mpox vaccine; ask your doctor.

Can you still get mpox after the vaccine?

Yes, it is possible, because no vaccine is 100% effective. Vaccination may still help protect against severe illness, hospital stays and death[9].

  1. World Health Organization. Mpox. Fact sheet, August 26, 2024. who.int (accessed November 7, 2026)
  2. World Health Organization. Multi-country outbreak of mpox. External situation report no. 69. September 14, 2026. who.int (accessed November 7, 2026)
  3. World Health Organization. Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing, September 5, 2025. who.int (accessed November 7, 2026)
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Signs and symptoms of monkeypox. January 22, 2026. cdc.gov (accessed November 7, 2026)
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinical signs and symptoms of monkeypox. January 14, 2026. cdc.gov (accessed November 7, 2026)
  6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diagnostic testing for monkeypox. February 6, 2026. cdc.gov (accessed November 7, 2026)
  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinical overview of monkeypox. Updated August 19, 2026. cdc.gov (accessed November 7, 2026)
  8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinical treatment of monkeypox. January 15, 2026. cdc.gov (accessed November 7, 2026)
  9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Monkeypox vaccines. January 22, 2026. cdc.gov (accessed November 7, 2026)
  10. Thornhill JP, Barkati S, Walmsley S, et al. Monkeypox virus infection in humans across 16 countries, April-June 2022. N Engl J Med. 2022;387(8):679-691. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2207323 (accessed November 7, 2026)
  11. Deputy NP, Deckert J, Chard AN, et al. Vaccine effectiveness of JYNNEOS against mpox disease in the United States. N Engl J Med. 2023;388(26):2434-2443. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2215201 (accessed November 7, 2026)
  12. PALM007 Writing Group. Tecovirimat for clade I MPXV infection in the Democratic Republic of Congo. N Engl J Med. 2025;392(15):1484-1496. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2412439 (accessed November 7, 2026)
  13. Zucker J, Fischer WA 2nd, Zheng L, et al. Tecovirimat for the treatment of mpox. N Engl J Med. 2026;394(9):884-895. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2506495 (accessed November 7, 2026)

This page is general information. It does not replace the advice of a doctor, who interprets your results with your symptoms, exposures and examination.