Someone who has mpox can spread it from the time their symptoms start until their rash has fully healed, all scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of skin has formed.

By preparing or eating meat or using products from the animal.By being scratched or bitten by the animal.The risk of getting mpox this way is low. From touching items (such as clothes, bedding, or towels) that were used by someone who has the virus.During pregnancy, from the pregnant person to the baby.

During intimate physical contact such as kissing, cuddling, hugging, massage or sex.By breathing in the virus during prolonged, face-to-face contact.

Through direct contact with their rash, scabs, or body fluids.

Through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact with someone who has the virus:.

During the recent outbreak, the disease has been found in people who live in other countries, including the United States. In the past, most of the people who got mpox lived in certain parts of central and western Africa, had traveled there, or had been exposed to infected animals imported from there.

And its disease causes milder symptoms and is usually not fatal. But mpox is less contagious than smallpox. The mpox virus is in the same family of viruses as the smallpox virus. Mpox, which used to be called monkeypox, is a rare disease caused by infection with the mpox virus.

Smallpox skin rash