Mpox
Mpox is a viral illness, with some symptoms similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, but it is clinically a less severe disease. It is a type of orthopoxvirus, which includes diseases such as smallpox and cowpox.
Currently Arizona is hosting mpox vaccination events for the most at-risk populations. Links to vaccine interest forms can be found on the right-hand side of this webpage, broken out by county.
Symptoms
Per the World Health Organization (WHO), the incubation period (the time frame from when an individual is exposed to the virus and infected, to their onset of symptoms) of mpox is typically 6 to 13 days, but it can range from 5 to 21 days. The infection can be divided into two periods:
- Fever
- Headache
- Swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy)
- Muscle aches (myalgia)
- Backache / Back Pain
- Chills
- Exhaustion / Lack of Energy (Asthenia)
- In some (but not all) cases there will also be Respiratory Symptoms (e.g. sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)
Within 1 to 3 days (sometimes longer) after the appearance of fever, the patient develops a rash, often beginning on the face and/or extremities and then spreading to other parts of the body.
- Per the WHO, it affects the face (in 95% of cases), and palms of the hands and soles of the feet (in 75% of cases).
- Other affected areas, per the WHO, include the oral mucous membranes (in 70% of cases), genitalia (in 30% of cases), and conjunctivae (in 20% of cases). Even the cornea may become affected.
This rash then develops into small, flat lesions (sores/macules), that then bubble up into slightly raised, firm lesions (papules), and then fluid filled blisters (vesicles). These blisters will fill with a yellowish, pus-like fluid (pustules). Eventually these will naturally drain, dry up, form a scab and fall off.
The illness typically lasts for 2−4 weeks. Most patients with mpox fully recover from the virus without treatment.
If you have symptoms, including any unexplained rash: Please call your healthcare provider and inform them of your symptoms. If you do not have a healthcare provider, you can find one at FindHelpPhx.org or call (602) 506-6767 for assistance.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Mpox Information
World Health Organization: Mpox (who.int)
For vaccination resources, please visit the links to the right.
For additional resources on what Mpox is, how it is transmitted, signs and symptoms, and organizational resources, please see the below toolkit.
Mpox Toolkit for Tribes in Arizona
General information about the Mpox and the virus that causes it.
How do you catch Mpox?
What are the signs and symptoms of Mpox?
Information on the available vaccines to prevent Mpox, including:
- What type of vaccine is the JYNNEOS Mpox vaccine?
- Routes of administration and what to expect with each
- What pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis (vaccination) entails
- Criteria to qualify to receive the vaccination
- Possible side effects
Resource document with information about where to find Mpox vaccines. Current as of May 2023. This document includes:
- Links to Maricopa and Pima county health department vaccine interest forms; and
- List of IHS/638/Urban Indian Health Programs (I/T/Us) and FQHCs that carry the Mpox JYNNEOS vaccine for Tribal members, if they meet the qualifying criteria, along with contact information for these facilities, and whether or not a referral is required,
Infographic providing information on:
- Mpox symptoms
- Timeline for illness progression (How long will it last?)
- Stages of Mpox illness
- Example images of what Mpox pustules look like on the skin during each state of the illness
Infographic detailing how Mpox spreads, how long it can survive on various surfaces, and how to safely disinfect surfaces so as to kill the orthopox virus.
