MPox (Monkeypox)

MPox symptoms usually appear 6 to 13 days after being exposed to the virus, but can also range from 5 to 21 days. Infection usually has two phases:

1. A prodromal (early) illness that lasts between 1 to 5 days, including:
   • Fever
   • Headache
   • Muscle aches
   • Swollen lymph nodes
   • Backache
   • Chills
   • Exhaustion
   • Sore throat and/or cough
   • Runny nose
2. A skin rash that begins 1 to 5 days after fever. The rash often begins on the face and then spreads to other places on the body, including the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and mouth. The rash turns into blisters that then scab over.

The MPox virus enters the body through breaks in the skin, or through the eyes, nose, and mouth.

The virus is spread by:

• Touching the sores, scabs, or body fluids of an infected person (including hugging, kissing, and sexual contact)
• Prolonged face-to-face contact with an infected person, such as an in person conversation
• Touching objects that are contaminated with the virus, such as clothing or bedding
• Being bit/scratched by an infected animal, touching wild game meat, or using products made from infected animals

MPox is contagious when symptoms first appear and until all scabs from the sores have fallen off and new skin is present.

If you have symptoms of MPox, you should talk your health care provider right away to see if treatment is recommended. Most people do not need treatment for MPox, and symptoms will go away on their own within 2 to 4 weeks. For rare, severe cases of illness, the treatment used for smallpox may be used to treat MPox.

Anyone who has been exposed to a person infected with MPox should monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days. A health care provider may give smallpox vaccine to those who have had a high risk exposure to MPox. Anyone with symptoms of MPox should isolate right away and contact a health care provider.

To reduce the risk of MPox infection:

• Practice good hand hygiene after contact with infected people or animals. This includes washing your hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for an infected person, including gloves, gown, eye protection, and respirator.
• Avoid contact with animals that could carry the virus (including animals that are sick or found dead in areas where there is MPox).
• Avoid direct contact with materials that have been in contact with an infected person or animal, such as bedding.

The MPox vaccine (Imvamune) can now be given to eligible persons, as per the Ontario Ministry of Health guidelines. A single dose will provide protection two weeks after vaccination. A second dose can be given 28 days after receiving the first dose, and may provide longer-lasting protection.

Imvamune® can be used to protect individuals before an exposure to the MPox virus (this is called Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or PrEP) or to protect individuals after being exposed to the MPox virus (this is called Post-Exposure Prophylaxis or PEP).

Imvamune® vaccine eligibility for protection before an exposure to the MPox virus (PrEP)

Based on the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) guidelines, the following individuals/groups are recommended to have PrEP:

• Men who have sex with men (MSM), and individuals who have sex with MSM, and who meet at least one of the following criteria:
  • Having two or more sexual partners or being in a relationship where at least one of the partners has other sexual partners
  • Having had a confirmed sexually transmitted infection acquired in the last year (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis)
  • Engage in sexual contact in sex-on-premises venues
• Individuals who self-identify as sex workers regardless of self-identified sex/gender
• Staff or volunteers in sex-on-premises venues where workers may have contact with fomites (e.g., clothing, bedding, towels, etc.) potentially contaminated with MPox, without the use of personal protect equipment

Clients can book and/or cancel an appointment by telephone at: 519-258-2146 ext. 1420. At this time, people who have or have had MPox are not eligible for the vaccine.

Imvamune® vaccine eligibility after being exposed to the MPox virus (PEP)

Based on the Ontario Ministry of Health guidelines, individuals who have been identified by their local public health unit as having a high exposure with someone who has the MPox virus are eligible to receive Imvamune®. These individuals will be contacted directly by their local public health unit.