Monkeypox, now officially called mpox, is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It can spread from person to person and typically causes a rash and other flu-like symptoms. Mpox is sometimes confused with shingles because both illnesses cause painful skin bumps and fluid-filled blisters.

While the risk of mpox to the general public remains low, recent cases have been linked with travel to regions where outbreaks are occurring or close contact with someone who has mpox. Here’s what you need to know about the mpox virus, symptoms of mpox illness, how it spreads, and who is most at risk.

Mpox Quick Facts

What is the history of mpox (monkeypox)?

The mpox virus was discovered in a Denmark laboratory in 1958 when several laboratory monkeys developed a pox-like rash. The first report of a human contracting mpox was in 1970, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Public health officials say the disease is endemic in some central and west African countries, and prior to the 2022 outbreak, mpox cases in the United States were “linked to international travel to countries where the disease commonly occurs or through imported animals.”

What's the difference between clade I and clade II mpox?

There are two main types of the monkeypox virus, known as clade I and clade II. A clade refers to a group of closely related viruses.

• Clade I has historically circulated in Central Africa and is generally associated with more severe illness and a higher risk of death. It may also spread more easily.
• Clade II has historically circulated in West Africa and generally causes less severe illness and fewer deaths than clade I. A subtype of clade II caused the global mpox outbreak that began in 2022.

Is there an mpox outbreak in the U.S.?

Not currently. But there was a rare mpox outbreak back in 2022. On May 18, 2022, the United States recorded the year’s first case of mpox. By late September, while older adults were rolling up their sleeves for an updated COVID-19 vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had tallied 24,572 confirmed mpox cases.

Since the peak of the mpox outbreak in 2022, the highest monthly case counts occurred in the fall of 2025. Today, clade II mpox is still circulating at low levels nationally, and cases of clade I are rising as of July 2026 according to CDC.

How does mpox spread?

Mpox is transmitted through “close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact,” CDC says. This includes direct contact with mpox rash, scabs, or body fluids from a person with mpox; touching objects, fabrics (clothing, bedding, or towels), and surfaces that have been used by someone with mpox; and contact with respiratory secretions.   

Mpox is zoonotic, which means animals can transmit it to people, but “monkeys are not a main source of transmission,” Yale University epidemiologist Saad Omer said in an interview with the Yale School of Medicine. “… it’s the rodents that we need to worry about in terms of actual transmission.”        

In the U.S. in 2003, there were 47 “confirmed and probable” mpox cases linked to contact with pet prairie dogs, who arrived in a shipment of mammals that included several types of rodents.

What caused the 2022 mpox outbreak?

Researchers discovered that during the 2022-2023 mpox outbreak, the Clade IIb genetic sub-lineage of the virus adapted to efficiently spread primarily through close, intimate physical contact, mainly within interconnected sexual networks.

As of June 12, 2024, more than 97,000 confirmed mpox cases had been reported across 118 countries as part of the global outbreak that began in 2022.¹

Is mpox life-threatening?

Mpox is rarely fatal, and more than 99% of people who get it survive. But the risk of serious illness may be higher for people with weakened immune systems, young children, people with a history of eczema, and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

When the Los Angeles, California, Department of Health reported the country’s first death to mpox in mid-September 2022, officials said the person who succumbed to the virus was “severely immunocompromised.”

Is mpox dangerous for oldera dults?

Through Sept. 22, 2022, demographic data show that confirmed mpox cases for adults ages 61 and older were among the lowest recorded. CDC reported 277 cases in that age group.

CDC does not cite older age in itself as a risk factor for older adults, but public health officials stressed that anyone who’s had close, personal contact with someone who has mpox is at risk.

Who is at highest risk for mpox?

Following the 2022-2023 mpox outbreak, a review of 31 studies found that the risk of getting mpox was higher among people who had close contact with an infected person or animal, had multiple sexual partners or unprotected sex, or had HIV or another sexually transmitted infection. Men who have sex with men also had a higher risk of infection in the populations studied.²

What are the symptoms of mpox?

A rash, sometimes painful, is the most common symptom of the mpox virus. It can appear and spread on or near the genitals or anus, or on other areas of the body like the hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth. The mpox rash goes through several stages, including scabs, before healing.

Flu-like symptoms are other signs of infection. These can include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Exhaustion
• Muscle aches and backache
• Headache
• Respiratory symptoms.

If you think you have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has the virus, talk to your doctor about whether you should be tested.

If you have been exposed, watch for mpox symptoms for 21 days from the date of exposure.

How do you prevent mpox?

You can help protect yourself and others by following these CDC-provided guidelines:

• Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like mpox. Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with mpox. Do not kiss, hug, cuddle, or have sex with someone with mpox.
• Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with mpox has used. Don’t share eating utensils or cups with a person with mpox. Don’t handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with mpox.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially before eating or touching your face and after you use the bathroom.

What if I get mpox?

“Currently there is no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment specifically for monkeypox,” CDC says. “For most patients with monkeypox who don't have severe disease or risk factors for severe disease (e.g., severe immunocompromise), supportive care and pain control will help them recover.”

Even without a specific mpox treatment, there are a number of ways to manage your symptoms, including getting plenty of rest. Most people recover within 2-4 weeks.

Should I get an mpox vaccine?    

CDC says, “If you have certain risk factors that make you eligible, you can help protect yourself from monkeypox by getting the 2-dose monkeypox vaccine.” Talk to your health care professional or local health department to learn more about JYNNEOS, the two-dose vaccine developed to protect against smallpox and mpox.

How to stay informed about mpox

You can keep up with mpox developments and guidance on the CDC website, a trusted source for information on topics ranging from mpox prevention to mpox treatment. Data is updated frequently. WHO offers a comprehensive FAQ and a global perspective. And as always, if you have any health concerns, talk to your doctor.

You can also take steps to protect your overall health by staying up to date on your flu, COVID, and RSV vaccines. Learn more about the vaccines recommended for older adults.

Sources

1. Rajesh Yadav, et. al., Mpox 2022 to 2025 Update: A Comprehensive Review on Its Complications, Transmission, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Viruses. May 25, 2025. Found on the internet at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12197743/

2. Chigozie Louisa Jane Ugwu, et. al., Risk factors associated with human Mpox infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Global Health. February 3, 2025. Found on the internet at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11795413/