Mpox (Monkeypox)

LATEST MPOX UPDATE - October 2024

There are now a growing number of mpox cases within NSW, with local transmission recorded.

If you haven’t already, get two doses of the mpox vaccine, 28 days apart. Be on the lookout for symptoms and seek medical care and testing if you start to experience them.

You can stay safe by:

Avoiding close contact with people who have mpox or mpox symptoms

Avoiding contact with materials that have been used by someone with mpox, such as bedding or towels

Exchanging contact information with sexual partners

Washing or sanitising hands regularly

> For any questions about mpox, call the NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624

POP-UP CLINICS IN SYDNEY

A pop-up vaccination clinic has begun at RPA HealthOne Green Square (944 Bourke St, Zetland). The clinic opening hours are 9am-1pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 1pm-5pm Tuesday and 1pm-7pm on Thursday. Call the Sexual Health Information Link on 1800 451 624 to make an appointment.

In coming weeks, mpox vaccinations will be available at the following Sex on Premises Venues:

Sauna X by 357 10 Taylor St, Darlinghurst
Saturday 5 October, 1pm - 5pm
Aarows (Western Sydney) 17 Bridge St, Rydalmere
Sunday 6 October, 11am - 3pm
Sydney Sauna Level 1/38-42 Oxford St, Darlinghurst
Sunday 6 October, 2pm - 6pm
Sydney Sauna Level 1/38-42 Oxford St, Darlinghurst
Tuesday 8 October, 12pm - 4pm
Sauna X by 357 10 Taylor St, Darlinghurst
Wednesday 9 October, 12 midday - 4pm
Aarows (Western Sydney) 17 Bridge St, Rydalmere
Sunday 13 October, 11am - 3pm
Sydney Sauna Level 1/38-42 Oxford St, Darlinghurst
Tuesday 15 October, 12 midday - 4pm
Sauna X by 357 10 Taylor St, Darlinghurst
Friday 18 October, 12 midday - 4pm

THE MPOX VACCINE

All sexually active gay, bisexual men and men who have sex with men (cis and trans), as well as anyone who has sex with these men, including women (cis and trans), non-binary people, and sex workers are eligible to get the vaccine for free without a Medicare card.

Two doses are required. Anyone who has only received one dose of the vaccine should get a second dose at least 28 days after the first.

Find out where you can get the vaccine via NSW Health here.

While no vaccine is completely effective in preventing mpox, being vaccinated can greatly reduce the severity of symptoms experienced. 

A Post-Exposure Preventative Vaccination (PEPV) for mpox is recommended for people who are not fully vaccinated with two doses and have been exposed to mpox. Get a PEPV for mpox ideally within 4 days of exposure, although administration up to 14 days after may decrease the severity of symptoms. You should still get vaccinated even if it’s longer than 14 days since your last contact with someone who has mpox.

Currently, people who are fully vaccinated with two doses, including those who are severely immunocompromised, do not require booster doses of the mpox vaccine.

MPOX: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is mpox?
What are the symptoms of mpox?
What should I do if I develop symptoms or have been exposed to mpox?
I’ve just been told I’m a close contact for mpox. What should I do now?
How is mpox transmitted?
How is mpox treated?
Is there a vaccine that protects against mpox?
Do I need a booster if I've already had two doses of the vaccine?
Can people with mpox symptoms get the vaccine?
How can I reduce the risk of mpox at festivals, clubs and parties?
Mpox and sex: How can I reduce the risk of mpox?
Am I at greater risk if I’m HIV-positive?
Why are cases of mpox being detected among gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men?
If you have recently returned from overseas ...
If you are planning to travel overseas ...
Where can I get more information?

What is mpox?

Mpox is an infection caused by the monkeypox virus, that causes a rash. It is spread by skin-to-skin contact with someone who has mpox, including during sex and through sexual networks. Since May 2022, there have been cases of mpox reported from multiple countries where mpox is not usually seen. Most of the cases are in men who have sex with men.

Recently in Australia, there has been an outbreak of mpox. A number of cases have been detected in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and their surrounding areas. You can read more and keep up to date with the latest on mpox from ACON here.

What are the symptoms of mpox?

Symptoms of mpox include skin lesions, sores or a rash and rectal pain, alongside early symptoms such as a fever or chills, headaches, muscle and back aches, tiredness and swollen lymph nodes.

The rash, lesions or sores may be in areas that are hard to see such as the genitals and anus, anal area or in the mouth. They may also be on the face, arm, chest, back and legs.

The rash, lesions or sores may vary from person to person – for some it can look like pimples, for others they may resemble blisters. Rashes may also look like herpes or syphilis.

Most people develop symptoms 3-21 days after exposure.

People may experience all or only a few of these symptoms. People who are already vaccinated against mpox may only have very mild symptoms. Most people with mpox will get a rash, while others may develop sores before developing flu-like symptoms. Some may not develop any flu-like symptoms at all.

What should I do if I develop symptoms or have been exposed to mpox?

If you develop any symptoms or have been exposed to mpox:

Call the NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624.

Avoid contact with others and seek medical attention immediately.

Call your doctor or local sexual health clinic via phone or use telehealth services.

Monitor any current symptoms.

If you have not been fully vaccinated with two doses, get a Post-Exposure Preventative Vaccination (PEPV) for mpox.

Remember:

Do not attend a health service in the first instance – call first.

Avoid public transport.

Wear a surgical mask if you have sores in the mouth or throat or respiratory symptoms.

Wash or sanitise your hands regularly.

Cover any lesions with clothing or dressings. Ask your doctor or clinic what type of skin dressing to use.

Avoid sex or being intimate with anyone until examined.

Avoid gatherings, particularly if they involve close, skin-to-skin contact with other people.

For more information for people who have been in contact with mpox, visit NSW Health here.

I’ve just been told I’m a close contact for mpox. What should I do now?

If you have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for mpox, you will receive a call from the Public Health Unit.

Follow the Public Health Unit’s recommendations, including instructions on if and when and how to attend a health service for review.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624.

How is mpox transmitted?

Unlike other viruses such as COVID-19, mpox does not spread easily from person to person, so the risk to the population remains low.

Mpox is transmitted through close physical contact with someone who has symptoms. People with mpox may transmit the infection up to 4 days before symptoms start. This includes through:

Skin rashes, lesions or sores

Bodily fluids (such as semen, pus or blood from skin lesions)

Scabs

Ulcers, lesions or sores in the mouth (meaning the virus can spread through kissing)

Ulcers, lesions or sores in and around the anal area and anus

Mpox is mainly passed on during sex. It is not known how long mpox remains present in semen and other genital excretions.

Clothing, linens, or objects that have come into contact with a person who has mpox can also present as a risk for onward transmission.

You can also acquire mpox when a person with mpox has respiratory symptoms and sneezes or coughs and you inhale infected droplets, although this is rare.

It’s important to remember that mpox can continue to spread to others until the lesions and any rectal pain resolve. You may be infectious until all the lesions have crusted, all the scabs have fallen off and a fresh layer of skin has formed. People who have recovered from mpox should use condoms when engaging in sexual activity for 12 weeks after recovery.

How is mpox treated?

Mpox is diagnosed by swabs taken from affected areas.

Most people with mpox have a mild illness meaning that it resolves within a few weeks without specific treatment.

There are some therapies available for the treatment of mpox, particularly for people at high-risk, such as those who are immunosuppressed.

Is there a vaccine that protects against mpox?

Yes. The JYNNEOS vaccine to protect against mpox is free in NSW for eligible groups of people. You can be vaccinated without a Medicare card.

For more information on the NSW Health vaccination program, go to the NSW Mpox Vaccination page here.

Do I need a booster if I've already had two doses of the vaccine?

Currently, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation does not recommend booster doses of the mpox vaccine for people fully vaccinated with 2 doses, including those who are severely immunocompromised. Contacts who have received two doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine do not require post-exposure preventative vaccination (PEPV) after being exposed to mpox.

Can people with mpox symptoms get the vaccine?

Any person with ongoing risk of mpox exposure should be offered vaccination, even if previously exposed, and regardless of time since exposure. Vaccination given after the onset of signs or symptoms of mpox, after a diagnosis of mpox, or after recovery from mpox is not expected to provide benefit. As there is no known harm of vaccinating people with mpox infection, vaccination does not need to be deferred in symptomatic people unless there is a high index of suspicion of current mpox infection.

How can I reduce the risk of mpox at festivals, clubs and parties?

There are simple steps you can take before venturing out to help protect yourself and your community:

* Seek information from trusted sources like local health authorities – particularly when travelling interstate and overseas.

* Check yourself for symptoms before you leave home. If you feel unwell or sick, or have any rashes or sores, do not attend event or venues. Self-isolate and seek medical attention.

Consider the type of event you are planning to attend and how much direct skin-to-skin contact is likely to happen:

* Events such as festivals and concerts where people are fully clothed and unlikely to have skin-to-skin contact, are low risk. But remember that close physical contact such as kissing may spread MPOX.

* Events such as a party or club where there is less clothing worn, and therefore a higher likelihood of direct skin-to-skin contact, has some risk. Avoid any rashes or sores you see on others and minimise skin-to-skin to contact.

* Events held in enclosed spaces such as sex parties, saunas and sex-on-premises venues, where there is intimate sexual contact, carry a higher risk of mpox transmission.

Mpox and sex: How can I reduce the risk of mpox?

It’s important to be self-aware when it comes to our health so always monitor for symptoms before, during and after sex.

If you or a partner has mpox, the best way to protect yourself and others is to avoid any skin-to-skin contact, especially with any rash, lesions or sores. Self-isolate and seek medical attention immediately.

Here are some safe sex strategies to reduce your risk of mpox to consider:

* Use virtual methods (eg. phone, webcam) with no person-to-person contact

* Masturbate together without touching each other

* Reduce as much skin-to-skin contact as possible by leaving on clothing

* Avoid kissing

* Avoid sharing sex toys

* Use a condom during sex for at least 8 weeks after recovery from mpox

REMEMBER:

* Practice good hygiene after sex such as washing your hands, sex toys

* Exchange contact information with your sexual partners to assist with contact tracing if needed.

Am I at greater risk if I’m HIV-positive?

Evidence on mpox in people living with HIV is very limited. Most of this is based on research in countries where access to treatment is low and where people experience far more negative health outcomes than in Australia.

At the moment, people living with HIV should follow the same health advice as the general population. Should new evidence emerge that impacts people living with HIV, then updated information and advice will be made available.

Why are cases of mpox being detected among gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men?

A large number of cases detected overseas are among gay, bisexual or men who have sex with men. One reason for this is the active health seeking behaviour of gay, bisexual or men who have sex with men around sexual health. Because mpox rashes can resemble some STIs, such as herpes or syphilis, cases are being detected in sexual health clinics around the world.

It’s important to note that the risk of mpox is not limited to gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men. Anyone who has close contact with someone who is infectious is at risk.

Stigmatising people because of a disease is never okay. Anyone can get or pass on mpox regardless of their sexuality.

If you have recently returned from interstate or overseas ...

If you have recently travelled from Queensland, Victoria, or within New South Wales, keep an eye out for symptoms for 21 days from your departure. During this time, consider having a break from sex until the end of the incubation period.

If you develop any symptoms, particularly an unusual rash, lesions or sores, seek medical advice immediately.

Call the NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624  or call your doctor or local sexual health clinic via phone or telehealth.

If needed, you can access an interpreter whenever you call a NSW Health service, just ask for an interpreter once you have called your service and they will connect you, or sometimes they may call you back.

Remember: do not attend a health service in the first instance – be sure to call first.

If you are planning to travel overseas ...

If you are planning to travel overseas, especially to a known mpox hotspot such as areas in Europe, Africa, or North America, it is important to stay informed and remain aware of developments:

Get fully vaccinated well before you travel if you are able. People travelling to locations with known mpox outbreaks are considered at high risk and are eligible to get the vaccine. Be sure you allow enough time to get two doses before travel.

Follow public health alerts and advice from local health authorities of the countries you are visiting.

Keep alert of any event updates (before and after) from organisers if you are visiting festivals or large events.

Be aware and exercise caution if you plan to attend sex parties or SOPVs, particularly in places where there are identified cases of mpox. If attending these, consider adopting safe sex strategies to reduce your risk of mpox transmission.

Visit WHO for an updated list of affected destinations.

Visit Smart Traveller for travel alerts.

You can reduce your risk of contracting mpox overseas:

Avoid contact, including sexual contact, with people who are unwell or have mpox symptoms.

Avoid skin-to-skin contact, particularly with any rash, lesions or sores.

Avoid contact with clothing, bedding or objects that have been in contact with or used by people with mpox.

Wash your hands regularly.

If you develop any symptoms overseas, self-isolate and seek local medical attention immediately.

Where can I get more information?

Here are some sources of information:

NSW Health – Factsheet on Mpox

Australian Department of Health – Information Page on Mpox

World Health Organization page on Mpox

You can also call the NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624.

NSW Health have translated information available in: