Monkeypox (also called mpox) is mainly caught through close physical contact with an infected person or animal. It spreads by:
- Direct contact with the lesions, sores, scabs, or body fluids (like saliva, semen, blood) of someone who has mpox.
- Close contact including sexual contact, hugging, kissing, or caring for someone with mpox.
- Exposure to respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, talking, or breathing close to an infected person, though airborne transmission plays a smaller role.
- Contact with contaminated objects such as bedding, towels, clothing, or sex toys used by someone with mpox.
- Animal-to-human transmission can occur from infected animals' bites, scratches, or contact with their blood, fluids, or meat that is not thoroughly cooked.
Additionally, pregnant people can pass the virus to their fetus through the placenta, and close contact with infected parents can spread it to newborns or children. People may be contagious up to 4 days before symptoms appear during pre-symptomatic transmission.
