WTF is

MPOX?

MPOX, formerly known as monkeypox, is spread when there is skin-to-skin contact with an infected person who has sores or scabs. MPOX can be spread through kissing or lengthy face-to-face contact, sharing towels, bedding, sex toys, or unwashed clothing.

Get tested for MPOX:

MPOX illustration
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How do I know if I have it?

  • Symptoms for MPOX start showing 1 to 2 weeks after being exposed to the virus.
  • Symptoms can include fever, swollen lymph nodes, intense headache, muscle aches, and rash. The rash which looks like individual bumps (lesions) can develop on your face, hands, feet, genitals, or elsewhere on your body.
  • Though some people have a mild rash, sometimes the rash can be very painful. You can easily spread MPOX while you have lesions.
Images of MPOX on skin

How do I get tested?

If you think you have MPOX, stay at home until you can talk to your doctor and get tested. If you don’t have insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover the cost of testing, you can visit Health Center 1 or Mazzoni Center to get tested at low or no cost. If you have severe symptoms, go to an urgent care facility.

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Uh...

How do I get treated?

  • Most people recover with just rest and medication like Tylenol for symptoms. But if you have severe symptoms or are at risk for severe disease, there are medications available that may help.
  • The rashes will crust and scab over after about 2 weeks. Once all scabs have fallen off, you can no longer spread MPOX.

If you think you have MPOX…

  • Avoid skin-to-skin contact and kissing and avoid sharing bedding, towels, clothing, or sex toys with others.
  • Inform your recent sexual partners that they may have been exposed to MPOX so they can help prevent spreading it to others.
  • If you have to go out, cover rashes or sores with clothing, gloves, or sealed bandages and wear a mask over your nose and mouth.

Well...

How is it transmitted?

MPOX doesn’t spread through casual conversations, or by walking past someone. It is also unlikely you’d get it from touching a surface (like a doorknob or bus seat). However, you can get it through:

  • Skin-to-skin contact with an infected person who has sores or scabs.
  • Kissing or lengthy face-to-face contact.
  • Sharing towels, bedding, sex toys, or unwashed clothing.
Graphic of sex toy plug
Graphic of banana with condom

Ok...

How do I protect myself?

  • Use condoms every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. While condoms don’t fully protect against MPOX, they can help reduce the risk of skin-to-skin contact with bumps in the genital area.
  • Talk to your provider about vaccine. Vaccine is available at Health Center 1.

WHERE CAN I GET A MPOX VACCINE?

Find a location in Philadelphia to get a MPOX vaccine. All locations allow walk-ins but you can also schedule an appointment.

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JYNNEOS is a two-dose vaccine that protects against MPOX. Anyone in Philadelphia who is likely to be exposed to MPOX can get the vaccine.

People likely to be exposed to MPOX are:

  • Gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men or transgender, nonbinary, or gender-diverse people who in the past 6 months have had any of the following:
    • A new diagnosis of one or more sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis)
    • More than one sex partner
  • Individuals who have had any of the following in the past 6 months:
    • Sex at a commercial sex venue (like a sex club or bathhouse)
    • Sex related to a large commercial event or in a geographic area (city or county for example) where MPOX virus transmission is occurring
  • People who have a sex partner with any of the above risks
  • People who anticipate experiencing any of the above scenarios

 

Were you exposed to MPOX or have a partner with MPOX?

You should also be vaccinated:

  • If you had known or suspected exposure to someone with MPOX or
  • If you had a sex partner in the past 2 weeks who was diagnosed with MPOX

Vaccine should be received as soon as possible, ideally within 4 days of exposure.

 

Are you traveling to central or eastern Africa?

You should get vaccinated if you are:

  • Visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or one of its neighboring countries that has confirmed or suspected mpox cases, like Burundi, Central African Republic (CAR), Congo, Rwanda, or Uganda AND you are likely to be exposed, as described above.
  • Travel alone does not make someone eligible.

COMMON STIs AND OTHER INFECTIONS

Read more about the most common STIs and other infections below to know how to get tested and treated.

Free STI testing - Colorful graphic of condom

Syphilis is an STI that starts as a painless sore. It can cause many different symptoms including rash, swollen lymph nodes and even brain damage and blindness.

Chlamydia is an STI that may include painful urination and abnormal discharge from the penis or vagina.

Gonorrhea is an STI that causes painful urination and discharge. If untreated it may cause infertility.

Mpox is spread through close, physical contact between individuals. Symptoms can include rashes, bumps, or blisters.

Vaginitis is a term that covers multiple conditions that are not always transmitted through sex.

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis is often caused by a virus and there are many different kinds.

Genital herpes is a common STI that causes genital pain and sores.

HPV

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are many different types of HPV, some more serious than others. The good thing is that there is a vaccine to prevent many types of HPV.

Definiciones de términos

  • Administración de casos médicos, incluidos los servicios de adhesión al tratamiento

    Ayuda para facilitar las necesidades de atención médica y salud mental de personas con VIH, proporcionando además servicios de apoyo.

  • Asistencia farmacéutica para el SIDA

    Un programa que ayuda a pagar los medicamentos para el VIH y otros medicamentos.

  • Asistencia financiera de emergencia

    Ayuda a corto plazo para cubrir necesidades de emergencia, incluidos los servicios públicos, la vivienda y el transporte.

  • Asistencia financiera de emergencia para farmacia

    Ayuda para el pago de medicamentos.

  • Atención ambulatoria por consumo de sustancias

    Tratamiento por el consumo de drogas o alcohol en un consultorio u oficina clínica.

  • Atención de salud oral

    Cuidado dental.

  • Banco de alimentos / Comidas a domicilio

    Ayuda para obtener alimentos, ya sea en un banco de alimentos o con entrega a domicilio.

  • Educación en salud / Reducción de Riesgos

    Información y educación sobre cómo se transmite el VIH y cómo atender sus necesidades de salud.

  • Especialidad en adolescentes edades de 12 a 24

  • Línea directa del Centro de excelencia PEP

    Línea directa para obtener medicamentos que previenen el VIH después de una exposición.

  • Prueba del VIH

    Prueba de VIH disponibles en un servicio de atención sin cita previa.

  • Psychosocial Support Services

    non-clinical counseling and help

  • Servicios de atención primaria

    Servicios médicos de atención primaria disponibles independientemente de la capacidad de pago, el estado del seguro o el estatus migratorio.

  • Servicios de atención y apoyo para el VIH

  • Servicios de prevención de sobredosis

    Servicios para prevenir la transmisión del VIH relacionada con el consumo de sustancias.

  • Servicios de prevención del VIH

  • Servicios de reducción de daños

    Servicios para prevenir la transmisión del VIH y las sobredosis. Los servicios incluyen el intercambio de jeringas usadas por nuevas, con el fin de prevenir el VIH y otras enfermedades transmisibles.

  • Servicios de salud ambulatorios / externos

    Atención médica para el VIH en consultorios u oficinas clínicas.

  • Servicios de salud mental

    Un consejero u otro profesional que lo ayude a abordar problemas de salud mental.

  • Servicios de salud sexual sin cita previa

    Atención en salud sexual, pruebas de STI y pruebas de VIH en una clínica de atención sin cita previa.

  • Servicios legales

    Ayuda por parte de un abogado.

  • Servicios lingüísticos

    Traducción de idiomas para el médico u otro proveedor de servicios.

  • TelePrEP

    Acceso en línea y por teléfono a medicamentos para prevenir el VIH.

  • Terapia de nutrición médica

    Asesoramiento de un profesional autorizado sobre qué comer según las necesidades médicas específicas y ayuda para obtener alimentos o suplementos nutricionales (como Ensure).

  • Transporte médico

    Transporte hacia citas médicas.

  • Vivienda de transición

    Ayuda para el pago de la vivienda destinada a personas con VIH que están sin hogar o enfrentan inseguridad habitacional.

  • Vivienda Ryan White

    Ayuda a corto plazo para pagar la renta.

Term Definitions

  • Adolescent Specialty Age 12 to 24

    Agency has identified itself as a provider of services specifically for the age group from 12 to 24. The agency may also provide services for other age groups.

  • AIDS Pharmaceutical Assistance

    A program that helps pay for HIV and other medications.

  • Emergency Financial Assistance

    Short-term help paying for an emergency need, including utilities, housing, and transportation.

  • Emergency Financial Assistance Pharmacy

    Help with paying for medication.

  • Food Bank/Home Delivered Meals

    Help with getting food, either at a food bank or delivered to your home.

  • Harm Reduction and Syringe Access Services

    Services to prevent HIV transmission and overdose. Services include exchange of used syringes for new syringes in order to prevent HIV and other communicable diseases.

  • Harm Reduction Services

  • Health Education/Risk Reduction

    Information and education on how HIV is transmitted and how to take care of your health needs.

  • HIV Care and Support Services

    These are services that are sometimes called “Ryan White Services.” They are services to provide HIV care or other assistance to individuals with HIV.

  • HIV Prevention Services

    These services are meant to help prevent HIV transmission. Some services are specific to people who are HIV negative, and other services are available regardless of HIV status.

  • HIV Testing

    HIV testing in a walk-in setting.

  • Legal Services

    Help from a lawyer.

  • Medical Case Management, including Treatment Adherence Services

    Help facilitating healthcare and mental health needs for people with HIV while providing support services.

  • Medical Nutrition Therapy

    Advice from a licensed professional about what to eat for a specific medical need and help getting food or nutritional supplements (such as Ensure).

  • Medical Transportation

    Transportation to medical appointments.

  • Mental Health Services

    A counselor or other professional to help deal with a mental health problem.

  • Oral Health Care

    Dental care.

  • Outpatient/Ambulatory Health Services

    HIV medical care in an office or clinic.

  • Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for Non-Occupational Exposures (PEP COE)

    A hotline to find medicine to prevent HIV after an exposure.

  • Psychosocial Support Services

    Non-clinical counseling and help.

  • Ryan White Housing

    Short-term help paying rent.

  • Substance Abuse Outpatient Care

    Drug or alcohol treatment at an office or clinic.

  • TelePrEP

    Online and phone access to medicine to prevent HIV.

  • Transitional Housing

    Help paying for housing for people with HIV experiencing homeless or with housing insecurity.

  • Walk-In Sexual Health Services

    Sexual health, STI testing, and HIV testing in a walk-in clinic.

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