I have contracted mpox, what happens now? 

It is important you stay home and do not have contact with others. By self-isolating you are reducing the risk of the virus being passed on to others. 

This means not going to work, the shops or other public facilities like gyms. You will also need to isolate from others in your household if possible and should not have any visitors.

If you have mpox, you will only need to isolate at home for a minimum of 7 days from when your lesions first appeared. But from day 8 onwards, a Medical Officer of Health will assess whether you can leave isolation. Some precautions may still be required until all the lesions are completely crusted over and scabs have fallen off e.g. covering lesions, mask wearing, and informing healthcare providers of your mpox diagnosis before arriving. They will make their decision based on things like your symptoms (e.g. have you developed any new lesions in the past 48 hours) as well as assessing your occupation/workplace environment (e.g. will you be in contact with people at high risk of serious disease from mpox).

Mpox is a manageable infection for most people, and usually gets better by itself within 2-4 weeks. It is important to drink lots of fluids, and remember that taking pain relief can help with pain, body aches, headache, and fever. Your healthcare provider will be able to assist with this.

Occasionally people with mpox can become very sick. If your symptoms are unmanageable or especially painful, contact your primary healthcare provider.

If you are feeling very unwell, or you have trouble breathing or severe pain, call 111. Tell the ambulance staff you have mpox and wear a mask when they arrive.

I have been identified as having had contact with a person with mpox during their infectious period, what now? 

As mpox is an infectious illness that can be passed from person to person, there is a risk you may also acquire mpox. Public Health authorities are contacting all close contacts of mpox cases to assess options to protect against mpox. If you have not been contacted, please phone Healthline.

What you need to do:

• Look out for symptoms for 21 days from the date of your exposure.
• Avoid intimate/sexual contact for the 21-day period.
• If you develop any symptoms during this period, you should stay home, self-isolate, and contact your Te Whatu Ora contact for advice, and to arrange testing and medical care. You should be contacted regularly by a Te Whatu Ora health professional to check in on how you are feeling.

You do not need to: 

• Isolate.
• Stay home from work or school.
• Be tested for mpox if you do not have any symptoms or lesions.
• Tell other people that you live with, or have regular contact with, that you are a contact of a mpox case.