MPox Prevention
Prevention
Preventing Mpox is about steps you can take in daily life, in social settings, and when caring for others. Below are key strategies — backed by the CDC — to help reduce your risk and protect your community.
1. Get Vaccinated!
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The JYNNEOS vaccine and the TPOXX vaccine are powerful tools to prevent Mpox.
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If you were exposed to Mpox: getting vaccinated as soon as possible (ideally within 4 days of exposure) may prevent illness or make it less severe.
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Talk with your healthcare provider or DOHC about your eligibility for vaccination and where to get it.
2. Lower Risk in Social & Intimate Settings
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Avoid direct skin-to-skin contact with anyone who has a rash that might be Mpox.
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At gatherings like parties, raves, or clubs — where close or minimal-clothing contact may happen — consider reducing behaviors that increase exposure risk.
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Use latex or polyurethane condoms during sex: they may reduce risk, although they don’t fully protect against Mpox because the rash can occur on parts of the body not covered by a condom.
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If you’re in between vaccine doses, or not yet vaccinated, you may want to temporarily adjust your sexual activities:
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Limit number of sex partners.
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Consider gloves (latex, nitrile) if there’s risk of contact with lesions.
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Avoid kissing, intimate contact, or sharing saliva.
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Consider virtual or non-contact forms of intimacy.
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Wash hands, sex toys, bedding, and fabrics after contact.
3. Avoid Contact with Infected People & Materials
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Do not touch the rash, scabs, or fluid from someone who might have Mpox.
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Avoid hugs, cuddles, kissing, or any close physical contact with someone symptomatic.
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Don’t share personal items like towels, bedding, clothing, dishes, or utensils with someone who has Mpox.
4. Clean & Disinfect Properly
If someone in your household is infected or recovering:
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Use gloves and clean/disinfect surfaces regularly.
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Wash hands often with soap and water; use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if needed.
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For fabrics (towels, bedding), wash thoroughly and avoid reusing unclean items.
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Clean in the following order to reduce risk of spreading the virus: waste → laundry → hard surfaces → porous items → flooring.
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Use EPA-registered disinfectants (List Q) for cleaning.
5. Monitor & Manage Exposure
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If you’ve been exposed to someone with Mpox, monitor your health for 21 days after your last contact.
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During this time:
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Watch closely for symptoms (especially rashes), including in less-visible places like the genitals or mouth.
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You don’t necessarily need to quarantine, but you should avoid sharing items and take precautions against spreading the virus.
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If symptoms develop, isolate and contact a healthcare provider right away.
6. Be Careful If You Travel
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Avoid skin-to-skin contact with people who may have a rash.
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Avoid sharing personal items (e.g., towels, clothing) with others.
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If eligible, get vaccinated before travel, especially to regions with active Mpox outbreaks.
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If you develop symptoms while traveling, isolate, avoid further contact, and seek medical care.
Why These Steps Matter
These prevention strategies work because Mpox spreads through direct contact with an infected person or contaminated materials. By combining vaccination, safer behaviors, hygiene, and careful cleaning, we can reduce the risk of transmission — at home, in our social lives, and across the Coachella Valley.
