MPox Information

Informacion en Espanol

What is MPox?

MPox is a rare disease that is caused by infection with mpox virus.

DAP Health provides vaccination and testing for mpox by invitation only and based upon eligibility criteria defined by Riverside County Department of Public Health, CDC and California Department of Public Health.  

Mpox can cause painful and potentially scarring blisters, rash, and swelling. Swelling from MPox in the mouth, throat, urethra, or anus can be extremely painful and possibly dangerous.  

MPox usually begins with the below symptoms: 

• Fever 
• Headache 
• Muscle aches 
• Backache 
• Swollen lymph nodes 
• Chills 
• Exhaustion 

Within one to three days after the appearance of fever, a rash develops. It may begin anywhere such as the genitals, genital area, butt, back, chest, hands, or face. The rash may also appear where it is hard to see such in anus/rectum, mouth, throat, and/or urethra. Afterwards, sores can begin to develop over a period of 14-21 days. The severity of illness depends upon a person’s health, how they were exposed, and the strain of the virus. Typically, mpox symptoms last for 14-28 days. For examples of what mpox rash looks like, visit the CDC.gov. 

Mpox spreads from: 

• Prolonged Skin-to-skin contact with person having monkeypox, shared bedding, sexual contact, towels, and clothing. 
• Prolonged exposure to droplets (from coughing or sneezing) of someone infected with MPox. 

MPox Prevention 

Due to a national shortage of MPox vaccines, it is important to take steps to prevent the spread of mpox. 

Check:

• Your skin for bumps, blisters, or rash that may look like pimples. 
• Genital areas, around the anus, trunk, face, hands and back. 
• Yourself and your partners. 
• Rash may be in the mouth, urethra, and/or rectum. Some or all symptoms may be present during mpox infection. Isolate if you experience fever, swollen lymph nodes, and/or rash, which may or may not be painful. 
• Do not share bedding/towels and avoid skin-to-skin contact. 
• Wear a mask around others.
• Whenever possible, limit the number of sex partners. A tight or closed network of partners may help reduce your risk of infection. 
• Avoid sex with partners whose mpox status is unknown. 

Vaccination for MPox

There is a vaccine called the Jynneos vaccine. The vaccine is effective at protecting individuals against the mpox illness.

The vaccine requires two injections four weeks apart and you are not considered fully vaccinated until two weeks after the second shot.

How do I get my first dose of the Mpox Vaccine?

If you meet the criteria of our current vaccination requirements, please reach out to our Mpox hotline at 760.656.8432 or email Mpox@daphealth.org

We will email your name, number and your risk factors to our scheduling team and they will contact you by phone for further assessment and evaluation for scheduling. There are many people ahead of you so this may take a few days, but could happen much sooner.

How long will it take for the scheduling team to reach out to me?

First dose: The scheduling/assessment team is reaching out as quickly as they can. They will contact you when your name comes up on the list.

Second dose: People who received their first vaccine at DAP Health will be automatically contacted to schedule a second dose appointment, dependent upon our supply of vaccine. Based on vaccine availability second doses are currently being given four to six weeks after the date of the first dose.  

If you received your first dose somewhere other than DAP Health and you have received any services at DAP Health within the past year, please reach out to our Mpox hotline at 760.656.8432 or email Mpox@daphealth.org

If you received your first dose somewhere other than DAP Health and you have not received any services at DAP Health within the past year, Riverside County Department of Public Health is offering second doses via their Mpox Vaccine Interest Form.

Vaccine Efficacy

As efficacy of the vaccine continues to be studied in trials that are currently underway, DAP Health recommends that persons receiving the vaccine continue to take all necessary precautions until two weeks have passed following the second dose, as full/potential immunity does not occur until that time. Some protection is better than none. 

Treatment for Mpox 

Tecovirimat (TPOXX) is an available treatment for qualifying people with severe monkeypox. Because TPOXX is available through the CDC’s Expanded Access Investigational New Drug (EA-IND) protocol, we are required to obtain written informed consent prior to starting the medication. Only a small percentage of people with monkeypox will be eligible for treatment with TPOXX.  

Eligibility for TPOXX includes: 

Experiencing severe disease such as hemorrhagic disease, lesions that are extensive, sepsis, encephalitis, or other conditions requiring hospitalization.  

Being at high risk of severe disease including people with immunocompromising conditions, such as recent organ transplant or on cancer-suppressing drugs; people who are pregnant or breastfeeding; people with gastroenteritis with severe nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration; and people with infections involving accidental implantation in eyes, mouth, or other anatomic areas where mpox virus infection might constitute a special hazard (e.g., the genitals or anus).  

Talk to your health care clinician to determine if you are eligible for monkeypox treatment with TPOXX. 

Tips for Recovery

• If you have screened positive for mpox or are experiencing mpox symptoms, it is important to do what you can to minimize the chance of exposure to others.  
• Self-isolate as much as possible until you are no longer experiencing symptoms. 
• If you have lesions or a rash, cover them with clothing or a soft cloth when interacting with others or leaving your home. 
• Do not share your bedding, towels, clothes, or other fabrics with others. Wash and dry your used bedding, towels, and clothing after use. 
• Avoid skin-to-skin contact with others and use a face mask around others to minimize their risk of infection from large droplets from coughing or sneezing. 
• Supportive care for any rash or lesions includes drinking plenty of fluids, pain management, and prevention or treatment of bacterial infections.  

Proctitis 

Proctitis is painful inflammation of the rectum lining and has been seen in cases of mpox. 

Supportive care for anal/rectal inflammation includes drinking plenty of fluids, pain management, and prevention or treatment of bacterial infections. With early precautions and care, proctitis can be manageable at home. 

For painful anal/rectal lesions, a warm sitz bath (soaking the butt in a tub of warm water) lasting at least 10 minutes several times per day can help. Topical benzocaine/lidocaine gels or creams may also provide temporary relief. If going to the bathroom is painful, stool softeners may also help. Pain from monkeypox proctitis may require prescription medications, in which case stool softeners may also be helpful to counteract constipation.  

Proctitis can occur with internal lesions or bleeding. It is often manageable with appropriate supportive care, but it can become severe. If you have rectal bleeding with mpox or difficulty managing your pain, talk to your health care clinician to work on a care plan that works for you. If you are experiencing severe bleeding, please call 911. 

DAP Health has launched a MPox hotline, which can be reached at 760-656-8432 or MPox@daphealth.org, for community members who have questions or concerns regarding the virus. The hotline is not for people to be put on a vaccine wait list.