Mpox Frequently Asked Questions

See mpox Symptoms and Transmission.

Anyone can become infected with mpox.

No. While mpox is spread through close, skin-to-skin contact, and when people engage in sex, it is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI). People who have had close contact without having sex can also transmit or become infected with mpox. Cases of mpox have spread among family members in the same household.

There are two types of mpox virus, clade I and clade II. Infections identified during the current 2022 outbreak are the West African type.¹

(Clade I)

• Clade I is the strain that is responsible for the 2024 rise in cases in Central and Eastern Africa.4 This type is not associated with the 2022 outbreak
• Clade I had a fatality rate around 10% in the past, though recent outbreaks have had lower death rates at about 1-3.3%

(Clade II)

Clade II caused the 2022 global mpox outbreak.²

• Infections with the clade II type of virus are less severe and rarely fatal
• More than 99% of people who get this type are likely to survive

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), current understanding of how long immunity lasts after mpox is limited and medical experts do not yet have a clear understanding of whether a past infection gives you immunity.³ People who have had mpox previously should still follow guidance for preventing infection.

Mpox is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be spread from animals to humans through scratches or bites or by preparing or consuming the meat of an infected animal.⁴

Mpox can also be spread from humans to animals, although medical experts are still learning which animals can get mpox, it may be possible for pets like dogs and cats to be infected with mpox, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).⁷

Learn More

• CDC Mpox in Animals and Pets
• American Veterinary Medical Association Mpox

See mpox Recommendations.

Watch the video below for more information about mpox and things you can do to limit your risk for infection.

If you have had close contact with someone who has confirmed mpox or is being tested for mpox, contact your health care provider.

If you think you have symptoms, follow this guidance from the CDC.

Testing is available in Washington state and there is no shortage of testing. Testing is conducted by the Washington State Public Health laboratories and certain clinical laboratories. Contact your doctor for testing.

If you test positive for mpox, follow this guidance from the CDC.

There are no specific mpox infection treatments. However, because mpox and smallpox viruses are genetically similar, antiviral drugs developed for smallpox may be used to treat mpox virus infections. Patients who are more likely to get severely ill may be recommended an antiviral like tecovirimat (TPOXX), which is approved by the FDA for the treatment of smallpox.^2,5,6

Learn more about treatment with TPOXX

The JYNNEOS™ vaccine is FDA-approved vaccine for the prevention of mpox and smallpox.¹¹ This is a two-dose vaccine, administered four weeks apart. Both doses should be received for the best protection. If you have only received one dose of the vaccine and it has been longer than four weeks, you should still get your second dose.

The JYNNEOS vaccine is available on a limited basis in Spokane County. Here are some things you should know about JYNNEOS⁷:

• It is FDA-approved for prevention of mpox disease—the vaccine received FDA approval on Sept. 4, 2019.⁸
• It is also approved for the prevention of smallpox. The vaccine is approved for use in individuals 18 and older who are at risk for infection with smallpox or mpox.⁷
• It is administered with two doses via a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection 28 days apart.⁷
• JYNNEOS™ is a live, non-replicating vaccine that uses a Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus that cannot replicate in the body.⁷
• JYNNEOS may be used in individuals who are significantly immunocompromised who are not recommended to receive certain live vaccines.⁷
• JYNNEOS™ may be used in people younger than age 18 under an August 2022 emergency use authorization (EUA).⁹

Learn more

• Key Facts About Vaccines to Prevent Mpox Disease
• JYNNEOS™ Vaccine Information Statement

Common side effects after JYNNEOS vaccination are pain, swelling, and redness where the shot is injected as well as fatigue, headache, and muscle pain.

Yes. You can receive JYNNEOS vaccine at Spokane County pharmacies and health care provider offices. The CDC recommends JYNNEOS for those with certain risk factors who have not previously had mpox. If you have recovered from mpox, you do not need the JYNNEOS vaccine.

Find Mpox Vaccines

• Contact your health care provider or local pharmacy
• If you do not have a provider, look for vaccine clinics offering JYNNEOS on the SRHD website at srhd.org/events or contact Consistent Care Spokane, or WSU’s Range Community Clinic

It is important to make sure you get both doses of JYNNEOS at least 28 days apart. If you have already received one dose, remember, it’s never too late to get the second dose to finish the series.

For information about who should receive the mpox vaccine, please visit the Washington State Department of Health and CDC websites.