How to protect yourself from MPOX (monkeypox)

Unless you’ve been hanging out under a rock (or a pair 😉), you might have heard of the MPOX (Monkeypox) outbreak sweeping through North America and Europe.

Thankfully we are yet to see a significant outbreak in Australia. However, the situation in NSW is rapidly changing, so it’s best to keep across any new MPOX information as it becomes available.

NSW has now recorded community transmission

In NSW, MPOX transmission is occurring primarily between gay, bi and other men who have sex with men. So far, the majority of cases in NSW have been acquired overseas; however, we have now begun identifying instances of local community transmission of MPOX between guys who haven’t left the country.

How IS MPOX (monkeypox) transmitted?

You are most likely to acquire MPOX following close skin-to-skin contact with someone who has MPOX and has rashes, lesions or sores. Currently, sex seems to be the primary method in which MPOX is being transmitted, though it is still possible to transmit through other forms of contact.

You can also acquire MPOX when a person with MPOX sneezes or coughs (and you inhale infected droplets) or by touching items, such as bedding, contaminated with MPOX.

For more about MPOX causes, symptoms and treatment, visit our MPOX Information page here.

How to protect you and your partners from MPOX (monkeypox)

Due to international demand, there is a limited supply of vaccines for MPOX. So while we wait to receive more, consider adopting these temporary measures to reduce your risk of exposure to MPOX. Changing our behaviour will help slow the spread of MPOX until the vaccine supply is adequate.

Taking these measures that will reduce the risk of MPOX exposure is also important when you are between your first and second shots of the vaccine. Your protection will be highest two weeks after your second dose of the vaccine.

Find more about MPOX vaccines and the vaccination program by NSW Health here.

Limit your sexual networks

Consider limiting your hook-ups to your existing network for the time being. Creating a bubble of trusted people you are going to be having sex with will reduce the likelihood of exposure to MPOX. It’s important to remember that this is only temporary while we wait to receive more vaccines.

Swap contact information

If you aren’t already, make a habit of exchanging contact information with any new sexual partner/s. This will assist with any contact tracing efforts if you or one of your partners test positive.

Reduce sexual partners to lessen MPOX exposure

For the moment, hooking-up with multiple partners presents a higher likelihood of MPOX transmission. While we wait for more vaccines to arrive, consider reducing your sexual partners for the time being. This will lessen your risk of exposure to MPOX.

If you’ve travelled to an MPOX hotspot overseas, hold off sex for now

If you are a returned traveller from either North America, Europe, or another area experiencing an MPOX outbreak, and you hooked-up or attended sex parties, saunas or sex clubs while there, get an STI screen when you get home and reduce your hook-ups. It is recommended that you hold off from sex for 14 days to monitor your health. If symptoms develop, seek medical attention immediately. Learn more about MPOX symptoms here.

Use the following strategies to reduce your risk of MPOX while hooking-up

Here are some strategies you can use to minimise the risk of MPOX transmission while you are having sex:

• Use virtual methods (e.g. Video call on a phone or webcam) with no person-to-person contact
• Masturbate together without touching each other, and do not touch any sores or rash
• Reduce skin-to-skin contact as much as possible by leaving on clothing
• Avoid kissing or spit
• Avoid sharing sex toys
• If you’ve previously had MPOX, use a condom during both oral and anal sex for at least eight weeks after recovery from MPOX.

Be aware that MPOX can also spread through respiratory secretions with close, face-to-face contact.

Going out: Reducing your risk at festivals, clubs and parties

There are simple steps you can take before venturing out to help protect yourself and your community:

• Seek information from trusted sources like local health authorities – particularly when travelling interstate and overseas.
• Check yourself for symptoms before you leave home. If you feel unwell or sick or have rashes or sores, do not attend events or venues. Self-isolate and seek medical advice.

Consider the type of event you are planning to attend and how much direct skin-to-skin contact is likely to happen:

• Events such as festivals and concerts where people are fully clothed and unlikely to have skin-to-skin contact are low risk. But remember that close physical contact such as kissing may spread MPOX.
• Events such as a party or club where there is less clothing worn, and therefore a higher likelihood of direct skin-to-skin contact, have some risk. Avoid any rashes or sores you see on others and minimise skin-to-skin contact.
• Events held in enclosed spaces such as sex parties, saunas and sex-on-premises venues, where intimate sexual contact with multiple partners occurs, carry a higher risk of MPOX transmission.

Learn more about what to do if you think you have been exposed to MPOX here.

Stay self-aware of your health and monitor for symptoms

It’s best to regularly monitor for MPOX symptoms such as unusual rashes, lesions or sores or fever, muscle aches or swollen lymph nodes. This is particularly important if you have attended any gatherings involving skin-to-skin contact with other people, have had close physical contact with others including sexual encounters, or if you have recently returned from or are travelling to an international location with known cases of MPOX.

If you develop any symptoms, self-isolate and seek medical attention immediately.