1

If you have mpox or are a close contact

Español

Jump to: If you think you might have mpox | If you have been diagnosed with mpox | If you are a close contact to someone with mpox

If you think or know you have mpox, there are actions you can take to keep people around you healthy while you get better. There are also resources that can help you with food, utilities, housing, and finances (see More resources at the bottom of this page).

If you think you might have mpox

If you think you might be sick with mpox, see a health care provider as soon as you can, even if you have been vaccinated against mpox. See symptoms of mpox.

When you go to your testing appointment, cover your rash with clothes or bandages. Wear a mask over your nose and mouth when around other people. Keep your mask on during your entire appointment. Avoid public transportation and rideshares if you can (e.g., light rail, bus, Lyft, Uber).

While you wait for your results, stay home and avoid close contact with other people and pets as much as you can. If the test is positive, read below for what to do.

If you have been diagnosed with mpox

Answer the call

If your mpox test is positive, someone from public health will contact you. They will ask you about people you have had close contact with recently. The information you give public health is private — your information stays confidential. They will also provide information about what to do while you are recovering from your infection.

Notify contacts

You can use an online tool to anonymously notify your close contacts of mpox exposure. Notifying contacts is important so they can quickly get a vaccine to prevent mpox from developing and avoid spreading the infection to other people if they do develop mpox. Public health can also help to notify contacts.

Prevent spread to others

See CDC’s What to Do If You Are Sick for more information.

Isolate

If you have mpox, you should stay home (isolate) until your mpox rash has completely healed and a new layer of skin has formed (this can take 2-4 weeks), unless you have an emergency or to get follow-up medical care. Staying away from other people and not sharing things you have touched with others will help prevent the spread of mpox.

If you cannot stay away from others while you are sick, do the following to decrease the risk of spreading mpox to others:

  • Wear a well-fitting mask.
  • Cover your rash with bandages or clothing.
  • Avoid physical contact with other people, including hugging, kissing, cuddling, and sex.
  • Stay in a separate room if possible and use a separate bathroom if you have one.
  • Clean your hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer, especially after touching or changing bandages on your rash.
  • Clean and disinfect any surface you touch before another person touches it.
  • Avoid sharing objects (e.g., towels, washcloths, bedsheets, personal items). Wash silverware and dishware after using them.
  • Cover upholstered furniture and porous materials that cannot be washed.
  • Mpox can also spread to animals, so staying away from pets, livestock and other animals is important.

Clean your home

If you live with other people, clean and disinfect anything that might be shared. See CDC’s Cleaning and Disinfecting webpage for additional information..

  • Hard surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected before another person touches it. Think about surfaces in shared areas, like bathrooms and the kitchen. Hard surfaces can be disinfected with an EPA-registered disinfectant (List Q). Follow the directions on the label, including information about whether gloves, goggles, or other personal protective equipment is needed.
  • Avoid dusting or sweeping when surfaces are dry. This might spread viral particles into the air. Wet wiping or mopping is preferred.
  • When handling laundry, do not shake. Do not mix laundry used by a person with mpox with other laundry. Wear gloves when handling laundry used by a person with mpox. Wash laundry in a standard washing machine with detergent.
  • Handle waste safely, in plastic sealed bags, using gloves when disposing.

If you have animals

When you have mpox, you should avoid contact with animals, including pets. Ask friends or family members who live in a separate home to care for your animals until you fully recover. After you recover, clean and disinfect your home before bringing healthy animals back.

Don’t travel

Isolate at home or in another location until your symptoms are gone and your rash has completely healed; this means all scabs have fallen off and a fresh layer of skin has formed. It is especially important to not travel if you have fever, mouth sores, or respiratory symptoms such as sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough.

Taking care of yourself

Managing your symptoms

There are options to help manage your symptoms at home. Contact your health care provider if the pain becomes severe and unmanageable at home.

Ask about treatment

Talk to your health care provider about medicines that might work for mpox or for your symptoms.

Some people with severe disease may be able to get a treatment called tecovirimat (TPOXX).TPOXX is currently only FDA-approved for smallpox. TPOXX is an experimental (investigational) drug that is still being tested in people with mpox to find out if it is safe and effective for mpox. TPOXX is only available through a compassionate use program through CDC.

When to contact a health care provider

Contact a health care provider:

  • If your mpox symptoms get worse.
  • To find out if treatment with tecovirimat (TPOXX) or other medications is right for you.

For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

If you are a close contact to someone with mpox

If you have been told you are a close contact of someone with mpox:

  • Get a mpox vaccine as soon as possible if you have not already received 2 doses of mpox vaccine. This can prevent you from developing mpox.
  • Watch for symptoms for 21 days.

If you develop symptoms:

  • See a health care provider for testing.
  • Make sure you cover your rash and wear a mask when you go see a health care provider.
  • Stay away from other people and follow the advice above under If you think you might have mpox.

See CDC’s If You're a Close Contact for more information.

More resources