Heard about Mpox?
You may have heard about mpox (monkeypox) in the news . But what is it, what are the symptoms and how can you access help and information?
Mpox is a rare illness caused by the monkeypox virus and one of the symptoms is a rash that is sometimes confused with chickenpox.
January 2025- A new varient of mpox has been identified with a very small number of cases being seen in the UK (all of which had travel links to affected areas).
The overall risk level in the UK remains very low.
PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND A CLINIC OR WALK IN CENTRE if you have travelled to any of these countries and are experiencing:
- Rash
- High Temp or shivering ( chills)
- Swollen glands joint pain or backache
- Headache
- Exhaustion
If the above applies, please call 111 and click here for further information.
How is it passed on?
The virus can be passed on if there is close physical contact between people through:
- Kissing, skin-to-skin contact or having sex with someone with the mpox rash.
- Touching or sharing things like clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with the mpox rash
- Touching mpox skin blisters or scabs
- The coughs or sneezes of a person with the mpox rash
Once infected it usually takes between five and 21 days for the first symptoms to appear. Symptoms include recent unexpected/unusual spots, ulcers, or blisters anywhere on your body, fever, headaches, muscle aches, swollen glands, chills, and exhaustion.
A rash can develop, initially anywhere on the body, then can spread to other body parts. The rash is sometimes confused with chickenpox. It starts as raised spots, which turn into small blisters filled with fluid. These blisters eventually form scabs which later fall off.
Mpox is usually mild, and most people recover within a few weeks without treatment but as the infection can spread through close contact, it's important to isolate if you're diagnosed with it.
You may be asked to isolate at home if your symptoms are mild. Information for people who have been diagnosed with mpox and who have been advised to self-isolate at home can be found on the UKHSA website. For information on how to self isolate at home please click here
If your symptoms are severe or you're at higher risk of getting seriously ill (for example, if you have a weakened immune system), you may need to stay in a specialist hospital until you recover.
If you have travelled to any of these affected countries in the last 21 days, or had direct contact with anyone diagnosed with CLADE 1 mpox and are experiencing any of the following symptoms ,do not attend a clinic or walk in centre, please stay at home and call 111 for further advice .
- a high temperature (fever)
- a headache
- muscle aches
- backache
- swollen glands
- shivering (chills)
- exhaustion
- joint pain
Contact a sexual health clinic if you have any of the above symptoms but have not travelled to one of the affected countries, or if you have concerns you have been exposed to the UK dominant strain of mpox ( CLADE 2b)
Your call or discussion will be treated sensitively and confidentially.
Find out more information regarding vaccination
