The Facts About Mpox

What's the Mpox Status in Our Area? 

Across California, more than 5,570 probable and confirmed cases of Mpox had been detected as of Nov. 18, 2022, including at least 229 patients who were hospitalized, the California Department of Public Health reported. As of Nov. 18, 2022, Shasta County had three reported cases of Mpox. Individuals reported these cases on Aug. 23, Aug. 29 and Sept. 1, 2022. 

Mpox: Get the Facts

• Mpox is a rare disease caused by the Mpox virus
• Mpox can make you sick, including getting a rash or sores (pox), often with an earlier flu-like illness
• Mpox can spread to anyone through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact including:
  • Direct contact with mpox rash, sores or scabs
  • Contact with objects, fabrics (clothing, bedding, or towels), and surfaces that have been used by someone with mpox
  • Through respiratory droplets or oral fluids from a person with mpox
• This contact can happen during intimate sexual contact including:
  • Oral, anal, and vaginal sex or touching the genitals or anus of a person with mpox
  • Hugging, massage, or kissing and talking closely
  • Touching fabrics and objects during sex that were used by a person with mpox, such as bedding, towels and sex toys
• The virus can be spread in fluid or pus from mpox sores, and health care providers are trying to better understand if the virus could be present in semen, vaginal fluids or other body fluids

What Are the Symptoms? 

• Early flu-like symptoms of mpox can include:
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches and backache
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Chills
  • Exhaustion
• A rash or sores, sometimes located on or near the genitals or anus, but sometimes in other areas like the hands, feet, chest or face – sores will go through several stages before healing
• Sores may be inside the body, including the mouth, vagina, or anus
• Some people experience a rash or sores first, followed by other symptoms and some only experience a rash or sores
• Mpox can be spread from the time symptoms start until all sores have healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed – this can take several weeks

If You Have a New or Unexplained Rash, Sores, or Other Symptoms...

• See your healthcare provider; if you don’t have a provider or health insurance, visit a public health clinic near you
• When you see a healthcare provider for possible mpox, remind them that this virus is circulating in the community
• Avoid sex or being intimate with anyone until you have been checked out

If You or Your Partner Have Mpox...

• Follow the treatment and prevention recommendations of your healthcare provider
• Avoid sex or being intimate with anyone until all your sores have healed and you have a fresh layer of skin formed.

Statewide Information on Mpox

For detected case rates by county, a chart of California's onset of symptoms, a comparison of mpox to COVID-19, and more, visit the California Department of Public Health's pages on mpox.

If You Think You Have Mpox

Shasta County Public Health recommends that you speak to your primary care provider. Your provider can test for Mpox by swabbing a lesion and sending the sample to a lab.

If you do not have a regular provider, call 2-1-1 for assistance.

If you or your household has a case or exposure to Mpox , follow these links to learn more about:

If you have a new or an unexplained rash or other symptoms, seek medical care for further testing and evaluation.

• Wear a well-fitting mask, ensure your rash is covered, and tell your health care provider of your current symptoms of possible MPX
• Avoid crowds and close contact, including sexual or intimate contact, until you see your health care provider.

For more information about isolation recommendations, please refer to the CDC's guidance for Mpox infection control at home.