Mpox

You can get mpox during close contact with someone who has the virus. The virus can be on someone’s skin (in cuts and blisters) or in their mucus or breath. You can get it:

• When you have sex with someone
• When you kiss someone
• When you touch someone, during a long hug for example
• When you spend some time with someone, during a conversation for example
• If you share clothing or bedding with someone who has the virus

Have you had mpox? Then you can't catch the virus again.

Do you have mpox? Then don't touch anyone until you are completely healed. That includes customers. That means:

• No sex in your vagina or anus. Not even with a condom.
• No oral sex
• No fingering
• No rubbing
• No hugging or other types of touch

This applies to sex with your clients and with your own partner, if you have one.

What can you do if you have mpox?

Not feeling sick? Then you can have long-distance sex. For example using Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Teams or WhatsApp:

• Webcam sex
• Masturbate together online
• Sexting or phone sex using apps, video clips or audio (never send photos or video clips without the permission of the people appearing in them)
• Sexting with a group
• Watch porn at the same time, but you have to be in a different room
• Online striptease show
• Sell lingerie, photos or video clips

Make sure your face is never visible. Also consider other things that would allow people to recognize you such as tattoos.

Remember that these apps do not always fully protect your privacy.

By testing, you can find out whether you have mpox.

When should I get tested?
If you have symptoms that look like mpox. Call your own doctor or the GGD health service to discuss whether you should get tested.

Where can I get tested?
You can get tested at the GGD. You can also go to your own doctor first. They won’t test you, but can advise you on whether a test is needed. Testing for mpox is free.

What does a mpox test look like?

A test consists of:

• The doctor looks at the spots on your body
• Are they possibly mpox? Then the doctor will take some fluid from some of the spots
• The doctor sends the test to the lab
• The lab checks whether you have mpox
• After a couple of days you get the results

Stay at home and don’t have sex until you’ve got the results. This way you can prevent others from contracting mpox.
 

Usually you won’t need any treatment. The symtoms will resolve themselves.

In the Netherlands, there is treatment for mpox. You can be treated if you fall very ill and you’re in the hospital. Your symptoms will get less bad.

Do you have mpox? Then stay at home until the symptoms have gone. And don’t touch other people until:

• The symptoms have stopped
• The scabs have fallen off
• The skin under the scabs is dry

Are you in doubt? Call the GGD health service.
Want to know more about what to do if you have tested positive for monkeypox? Read the RIVM advice (in Dutch).

Tell people that you have mpox

Do you have mpox? Tell anyone you’ve had sex with in the past 3 weeks. The GGD nurse will help you with this.

Does someone you had sex with have symptoms? Then they can get tested. They stay at home and don’t touch anybody until the results are in or the symptoms have disappeared. That way they can’t infect others. Sometimes the nurse will also make sure they get a vaccination. That way the chance they get symptoms is smaller.

Perhaps you find it scary to tell people you have mpox. But others are usually happy to hear it. That way they can also get tested if they have symptoms. Or get vaccinated.

How do I make sure I don’t get mpox? And don’t give it to other people?
The virus is infectious if you have symptoms. Then you can easily pass it on to someone else. Symptoms often appear 5 to 21 days after you have caught the virus.

Do you have symptoms? Then avoid contact with other people and don’t touch anyone until your symptoms and skin rash have gone. That usually takes about 3 weeks. Then you won’t pass it on.

Do you have sex with one or more people? Ask each other’s phone number before having sex. Does one of you turn out to have mpox? You can easily let each other know.

I was somewhere where someone had mpox. What should I do?
Watch out for symptoms for a few weeks afterwards. If you do get symptoms, contact your own doctor or the GGD health service straightaway. Even if you’re not sure.

I was in close contact with someone who has mpox. What should I do?
Contact your own doctor or the GGD health service. Call them – don’t go there in person.

What does testing for mpox cost?
You do not have to pay for a test for the mpox virus. Do you think you might have mpox? Call the GGD health service or your own doctor. They will examine your symptoms and discuss whether you were in risky situations. That way the doctor will determine whether you need a test.

Am I at higher risk to get mpox at Pride events?
You don’t get mpox from visiting Pride events, but by being in close contact with someone who has the virus, for example during sex, kissing or hugging. Make sure you check whether you or your sex partner(s) show(s) symptoms of monkeypox. It doesn’t matter whether this is during Pride, at a prty, in a sex club or in your bedroom.

You won’t get mpox from shortly touching someone. For example while dancing or when ordering a drink at the bar.

Can I get a vaccination against mpox?
A small group of people can get a vaccination against mpox. These are men who have sex with men who are at a higher risk to contract the virus. These people will get an invitation from the GGD health service. In the invitation you can see where you can get the vaccine and how this works. You can’t plan it yourself.

I got vaccinated against pox when I was younger. Am I now also protected against mpox ?
You can get mpox when you have been vaccinated against pox when you were younger. The old vaccine does help not to get as ill from mpox.

Do condoms protect against mpox?
We think so, but not completely. You can get mpox and infect other when your skin touches someone else’s. For example when there’s blisters or scabs.

A condom can protect where skin is thin or wet. For example your penis, vagina, mouth or ass (anus). In those places symptoms are usually worse. Do you use a condom when having sex in your ass, vagina and/or mouth? Possible symptoms will be less intense in those places.

We don’t know yet whether you can contract mpox through sperm. Neither do we know how long you can infect others for. Did you contract mpox? Use condoms during any type of sex for three months after.

Is the virus dangerous?
We do not yet have all the information about the virus that is currently spreading in Europe. Until now, the virus does not seem to be very dangerous for most people. And people are recovering after a couple of weeks. Very occasionally, someone might get very ill. Or die as a result of the virus. For example, young children and people with a very weakened immune system. But that has not yet occurred in Europe, where good healthcare and treatment are available.

Is mpox an STI? 
No, the mpox virus is not an STI. It is not only sexually transmitted.

You could get it when you have sex, because you are very close together. This can also happen with flu, for example. Usually it is spread through:

• Blisters and scabs in or near your mouth, nose, eyes, bottom, penis and vagina
• Fluid from blisters in your mouth or throat

During sex, you are close together. That’s why there is a greater risk of getting the virus or passing it on.

Do only gay men get mpox?
The mpox virus is now being found mostly in men who have sex with men. But anyone can get it. You can catch it if you have close contact. Whether you are gay, straight, male or female – it makes no difference.

Should I worry about the virus?
There is no need to worry at the moment. We are keeping an eye on the number of infections. The GGD health service and GPs are acting swiftly to stop the virus spreading further.

Can I have sex now that mpox has been found in the Netherlands?
Yes, you can. As long as neither of you have any symptoms of mpox.

But don’t have sex:

• If you have symptoms that might be mpox
• If someone you have been in contact with has told you they have or may have mpox
• If someone has told the person you have sex with that they have or may have mpox 

If you do get symptoms, don’t have sex until they have gone. Do you have sex in darkrooms or somewhere else where it’s dark? Then remember that it’s more difficult to see whether someone has symptoms. Talk to people you have sex with about how you are protecting yourself against the virus.

Why is there so much attention for this virus if it is not very common and not serious?
It is not yet clear how the virus got to Europe. And how easily the virus can spread is currently being investigated. New diseases often suddenly occur in the Netherlands. But they just as often disappear again. At the moment, there are very few cases of the mpox virus in Europe. And most people who do get infected have few symptoms and soon recover. But occasionally it is more serious.

All cases of mpox are currently being identified. To make sure that as few people as possible get ill.

Want to know more?
We don’t yet know everything about the virus in Europe. Whenever we get updates, you’ll read about it here. For more information, you can also go to the RIVM website.