City and County of Denver, CO

08/28/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/28/2024 14:00

DDPHE Blog: Mpox in Denver

DDPHE Blog: Mpox in Denver

Published on August 28, 2024

Cases of mpox are continuing to circulate in Colorado, including Denver. The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) wants to remind Denver residents that testing, free vaccines, and treatment for mpox are available.

Get vaccinated for maximum protection

Getting the mpox shot is the easiest way to protect yourself. The vaccine for mpox is a fully FDA-approved shot called Jynneos. This vaccine is a two-dose series given 28 days apart. Get your second dose even if it's been a month or more since your first.

The mpox vaccine can be given between layers of the skin (intradermally) or in the fatty tissue under the skin (subcutaneously). You can ask to get the vaccine in a way that will not cause a scar (subcutaneously).

The mpox vaccine is free. No ID, insurance, or payment is needed to get vaccinated. Find a vaccine near you and get caught up on your mpox vaccine today.

If you think you have been exposed to mpox, get vaccinated as soon as possible. The vaccine can help keep you from getting sick if you receive it within four days of exposure to the mpox virus. If you get the vaccine between four and 14 days after exposure, it can help prevent severe illness but may not completely prevent infection.

How mpox is spread

Mpox can be spread from one person to another in different ways, but is spread mainly through close, personal contact, including intimate or sexual contact. Close contact includes direct skin-to-skin contact with the sores, bumps or lesions of someone who has mpox, contact with saliva, snot or mucus from someone who has mpox, or through prolonged, face-to-face interactions with someone who has it. Mpox can spread to others through contact with objects, fabrics and surfaces that have not been disinfected after use by someone with mpox (such as clothing, bedding, and towels), but this is less common. Most cases in the U.S. have been acquired through close physical contact with someone who has mpox. Brief interactions without physical contact are unlikely to result in spreading the virus.

Mpox symptoms

Mpox can cause a rash or bumps on the skin. Mpox can look like syphilis, herpes, blisters, or acne. Some people also feel flu-like symptoms. People with mpox often get a rash that may be located on hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth or near the genitals, including penis, testicles, labia, and vagina, and anus. The time it takes for someone to experience symptoms after being exposed to the virus is 3-17 days. During this time, a person does not have symptoms and may feel fine. New data from the CDC shows that some people can spread mpox to others from one to four days before their symptoms appear.

The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing. The rash can initially look like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy. Other symptoms of mpox can include:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Exhaustion
  • Muscle aches and backache
  • Headache
  • Respiratory symptoms (e.g., sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)

You may experience all or only a few symptoms. Mpox is transmitted through close physical contact, including sex. Talk with your partner about any mpox symptoms. Meeting with partners you already know can help reduce risk.

How long do mpox symptoms last?

Typically, mpox symptoms start within 21 days of exposure to the virus. If you have flu-like symptoms, you will likely develop a rash 1-4 days later. If you have symptoms, such as a rash, visit a healthcare provider. A person with mpox can spread it to others from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed.

Get tested

Get tested if you have a new rash or bumps and think you may have been exposed to mpox - even if you are vaccinated. Find a testing location in Denver online.

Ask about treatment

If you test positive, you may be able to get treatment called TPOXX, or Tecovirimat. Ask your health care provider about TPOXX.

Learn more about mpox

Additional information about mpox is available on the DDPHE mpox webpage.

What is happening outside of the U.S. with mpox?

The CDC and other global organizations are closely monitoring the spread of clade I mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other parts of Central and Eastern Africa. A clade is a specific grouping of organisms that have the same ancestry and share similar genetic changes. Clade I mpox is endemic in the DRC and is different than clade II mpox that is circulating in the U.S. The risk of this mpox type to most Americans is very low, and there are currently no cases in the U.S. The U.S. is well-prepared to quickly detect, contain, and manage any clade I cases if they occur.