FREEtelehealth consult with Medicare (bulk-billed)
A Specialist GP assesses your symptoms, exposure or vaccine questions over a quick phone call. If you have a new rash or lesions, phone ahead so you can be seen safely — the GP arranges a swab test where needed, advises on supportive care, and can organise mpox vaccination.
Book a telehealth consult — free with Medicare (bulk-billed)
A Specialist GP reviews your symptoms, exposure or vaccine questions
Swab testing arranged if needed — plus supportive-care advice and mpox vaccination
Mpox (previously called monkeypox) is an illness caused by the monkeypox virus, part of the same family of viruses as smallpox, though generally much milder. It causes a characteristic rash — often with fever and other flu-like symptoms — and most people recover fully within two to four weeks. It can, however, be painful, and it can be more serious in certain groups.
Mpox has been present in parts of Africa for many years, but from 2022 a global outbreak spread it to many countries, including Australia, mainly through close and sexual contact. It remains something worth understanding — knowing how to recognise it, how it spreads, and how vaccination can protect you helps keep both you and others safe.
Mpox Symptoms and the Rash
Mpox symptoms usually appear within about 3 to 21 days of exposure. They can come in a slightly different order from person to person, but typically include:
A rash or skin lesions — the most recognisable feature (described below).
Fever, chills and feeling generally unwell.
Headache, muscle aches and backache.
Swollen lymph nodes (glands), which is a fairly characteristic feature.
Tiredness and exhaustion.
Sore throat, or pain and bleeding around the anus or rectum if lesions are there.
In many recent cases, the rash has been the first thing noticed — sometimes with only a few lesions, often in the genital or anal area — rather than a big illness with fever first. Because of this, even a small number of new lesions in that area is worth taking seriously.
The mpox rash
The mpox rash is its hallmark. It typically goes through recognisable stages: it starts as flat spots, which become raised bumps, then fill with fluid to form blisters, then become pustules (filled with pus), before finally crusting over into scabs that fall off as the skin heals. The whole process usually takes two to four weeks.
The rash can appear anywhere, but is often seen on the genitals, around the anus, in or around the mouth, and on the hands, feet or face. The lesions can be painful — particularly around the anus or in the mouth — and are sometimes few in number rather than widespread. A person is generally considered infectious from when symptoms begin until all the scabs have fallen off and fresh skin has formed underneath.
How Mpox Spreads, and Who Is at Higher Risk
Mpox spreads mainly through close physical contact with someone who has it. This includes:
Skin-to-skin contact, including during sex — the main route in recent outbreaks.
Contact with mpox lesions, sores or scabs.
Prolonged close face-to-face contact (via respiratory droplets).
Contact with contaminated items such as bedding, towels or clothing.
In the recent global outbreak, most spread has been through sexual contact, which is why mpox is often discussed alongside sexual health — although it isn’t a classic sexually transmitted infection, and anyone in close contact with an infected person can catch it. Condoms don’t fully prevent it, because it spreads by skin contact, but avoiding contact with someone who has active lesions is the key.
Who is at higher risk
In Australia and similar countries, a high proportion of recent cases have been among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, with spread largely through sexual contact — so this group is a focus for vaccination and awareness. Anyone can get mpox, though, through close contact.
Some people are at higher risk of severe mpox, including people who are immunocompromised — such as those with HIV that isn’t well controlled — as well as pregnant women, young children, and people with certain skin conditions. For these groups, mpox can be more serious and recovery harder, which is one reason vaccination and early assessment matter.
Mpox Clades and the Current Situation
The monkeypox virus comes in two main types, called clades. Clade I (including subtypes Ia and Ib) has historically been associated with more severe illness, and clade II (including IIb) with generally milder disease. The 2022 global outbreak — including the cases seen in Australia — was driven by clade IIb.
More recently, a large clade I (clade Ib) outbreak centred on the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring countries prompted the World Health Organization to declare a public health emergency. Clade Ib has since been detected in a number of countries outside Africa, almost all linked to travel — and Australia recorded its first clade Ib case, in a returned traveller, in 2025, with a low risk of onward spread. Current data suggest clade Ib is less severe than the older clade Ia and broadly similar in severity to clade IIb. The situation continues to evolve, so up-to-date advice — particularly before travel to affected regions — is worth checking.
How Mpox Is Diagnosed and Treated
Mpox is diagnosed by taking a swab from one of the lesions and testing it for the virus (a PCR test). If you have a new rash or lesions — especially in the genital or anal area, after close or sexual contact, or after travel to an affected region — it’s important to get assessed, ideally contacting the clinic ahead so they can arrange to see you safely. A clinician will take a swab and can also check for other sexually transmitted infections at the same time, since symptoms can overlap.
Mpox treatment
For most people, mpox treatment is supportive — the illness resolves on its own, and care focuses on relieving symptoms while the body clears the virus. This includes:
Pain relief, which can be important, as lesions (especially around the anus or mouth) can be very painful.
Good skin and wound care to keep lesions clean and help prevent secondary infection.
Rest, fluids and managing fever.
Treating complications if they arise, such as a secondary bacterial infection of the skin.
A specific antiviral is available and may be considered for people with severe disease or at high risk of it, under specialist guidance — though its benefit in speeding recovery has been uncertain in studies, so it isn’t used routinely. People at higher risk of severe illness should be assessed promptly, as they may need closer monitoring or hospital care.
The Mpox Vaccine and Stopping the Spread
A safe and effective vaccine (JYNNEOS) protects against mpox. It’s given as two doses, at least 28 days apart, and full protection builds after the second dose — so completing both doses matters. The vaccine is used in two ways:
Before exposure (pre-exposure): for people at higher risk, to prevent infection — and it can reduce the severity of illness even if you do catch mpox. Vaccination before travel to regions with clade I transmission is recommended for those who may have higher-risk contact there.
After exposure (post-exposure): given ideally within 4 days of contact with someone with mpox (and potentially up to 14 days) to prevent or lessen illness.
The mpox vaccine is provided free for eligible people at higher risk under the national program. Because two doses give the best protection, it’s worth completing the course rather than relying on a single dose. If you’d like to arrange it, our mpox vaccination service starts with a free telehealth assessment where a Specialist GP goes through whether the vaccine is right for you, checks stock and books your appointment.
Stopping the spread. If you have mpox, a few steps protect others while you recover: avoid close physical contact and sex until all lesions have healed, scabs have fallen off and fresh skin has formed; isolate as advised (mpox is a notifiable condition, and public health guidance will help you know how long to stay away from others); don’t share bedding, towels or clothing, and clean surfaces and wash items on a hot cycle; and cover lesions where possible and practise good hand hygiene.
When to See a Doctor
See a clinician if you develop a new rash or lesions — particularly in the genital or anal area — with or without fever, swollen glands or feeling unwell, especially after close or sexual contact with someone who may have had mpox, or after travel to an affected region. Phone ahead where you can, so you can be seen safely.
Seek prompt medical care if lesions are severe or very painful, if you can’t eat or drink because of mouth or throat lesions, if you have severe rectal pain or bleeding, if you’re immunocompromised, pregnant, or caring for a young child who may be affected, or if you feel very unwell — these situations may need closer care.
If you’d like an assessment, testing or advice about the mpox vaccine, booking is quick and care is confidential and judgement-free.
Frequently asked questions
Mpox (previously called monkeypox) is an illness caused by the monkeypox virus, from the same family as smallpox but generally much milder. It causes a characteristic rash, often with fever and flu-like symptoms, and most people recover fully within two to four weeks. It can be painful and more serious for some groups. A global outbreak from 2022 spread it to many countries, including Australia.
Symptoms usually appear within about 3 to 21 days and include a rash or skin lesions (the most recognisable feature), fever and chills, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, tiredness, and sometimes sore throat or pain around the anus. In many recent cases the rash appears first, sometimes with only a few lesions, often in the genital or anal area.
The rash goes through stages: flat spots that become raised bumps, then fluid-filled blisters, then pustules, before crusting into scabs that fall off as the skin heals — usually over two to four weeks. It can appear anywhere but is often on the genitals, around the anus, in or around the mouth, and on the hands, feet or face. Lesions can be painful and sometimes few in number.
Mainly through close physical contact with someone who has it, including skin-to-skin contact during sex (the main route recently), contact with lesions, sores or scabs, prolonged close face-to-face contact, and contact with contaminated bedding, towels or clothing. Condoms don’t fully prevent it because it spreads by skin contact, so avoiding contact with someone who has active lesions is key.
Not exactly — although in recent outbreaks most spread has been through sexual contact, so it’s often discussed alongside sexual health. It’s not a classic sexually transmitted infection: it spreads through close physical contact of any kind, so anyone in close contact with an infected person can catch it, not only through sex. That’s why it’s considered in a sexual health setting but isn’t limited to it.
In Australia, a high proportion of recent cases have been among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, with spread largely through sexual contact — so this group is a focus for vaccination. Anyone can catch mpox through close contact. Some people are at higher risk of severe illness, including those who are immunocompromised (such as with poorly controlled HIV), pregnant women and young children.
The virus comes in two main types called clades. Clade I (including Ia and Ib) has historically caused more severe illness, and clade II (including IIb) generally milder disease. The 2022 global outbreak, including Australian cases, was clade IIb. A more recent clade Ib outbreak in central Africa prompted a WHO emergency; clade Ib has since appeared elsewhere via travel, with current data suggesting severity broadly similar to clade IIb.
By taking a swab from one of the lesions and testing it for the virus with a PCR test. If you have a new rash or lesions, especially in the genital or anal area, after close or sexual contact or travel to an affected region, get assessed — ideally phoning ahead so you can be seen safely. A clinician can also check for other STIs at the same time, since symptoms can overlap.
For most people treatment is supportive — the illness resolves on its own, and care focuses on pain relief (lesions can be very painful), good skin and wound care, rest and fluids, and treating any complications like secondary skin infection. A specific antiviral may be considered for severe disease or high-risk people under specialist guidance, though its benefit in speeding recovery has been uncertain, so it isn’t used routinely.
Yes — a safe and effective vaccine (JYNNEOS) is given as two doses at least 28 days apart. It’s used before exposure for people at higher risk (and before travel to regions with clade I transmission for those at higher-risk contact), and after exposure, ideally within 4 days of contact, to prevent or lessen illness. It’s free for eligible people at higher risk under the national program. Two doses give the best protection.
Avoid close physical contact and sex until all lesions have healed, scabs have fallen off and fresh skin has formed; isolate as advised (mpox is notifiable and public health guidance will help); don’t share bedding, towels or clothing, and wash items on a hot cycle; and cover lesions where possible with good hand hygiene. Getting assessed early if you develop symptoms also helps limit spread.
Most people recover within about two to four weeks, as the rash progresses through its stages and the scabs finally fall off, leaving fresh skin. You’re generally considered infectious from when symptoms start until that healing is complete. Recovery can take longer and be harder for people at higher risk of severe illness, who may need closer care.
See a clinician for a new rash or lesions, particularly in the genital or anal area, with or without fever or feeling unwell, especially after close or sexual contact with someone who may have had mpox or after travel to an affected region — phone ahead where you can. Seek prompt care if lesions are severe, you can’t eat or drink, you have severe rectal pain, or you’re immunocompromised, pregnant or very unwell.
