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Mpox information for contacts

Follow the advice on this page if you have been told that you are a contact of someone with mpox.

How to know if you are a contact of someone with mpox

A health professional from ACT Health will let you know if you have been in contact with someone with mpox. You may also be told by a person you know that you are a contact.

You might be a contact because you:

  • had sex with someone that now has mpox.
  • had physical contact with someone with mpox.
  • live with someone with mpox.
  • may have had contact with contaminated items, such as bed linen or clothes.

If you have been told by someone you know that you are a contact of someone with mpox, please contact ACT Health for advice. You can call ACT Health on 02 5124 9213.

What to do if you are a contact of someone with mpox

For 21 days after the date of your most recent contact you should:

  • monitor closely for signs or symptoms. See below for advice on what to do if symptoms develop.
  • take your temperature if you feel unwell, if you have a thermometer at home
  • regularly wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser
  • avoid close contact with people at higher risk of infection (young children, older people, people with weak immune systems, and people who are pregnant)
  • not donate blood, cells, tissue, breast milk, semen, or organs
  • avoid childcare, aged care, disability and healthcare settings. If you need to visit or work in one of these settings, please call ACT Health before attending.

If you had sex or intimate contact with someone with mpox, for 21 days from your last exposure:

  • don’t have sex
  • avoid close physical contact with other people.

What to do if you develop symptoms

If you develop symptoms, even if very mild, call ACT Health on 02 5124 9213 and ask about testing and for advice. Testing is not recommended unless you have symptoms of mpox.

Call Triple Zero (000) or go to your nearest hospital emergency department if you need urgent medical attention. You should tell the phone operator or hospital staff that you have been in contact with mpox.

Vaccination

You may be recommended vaccination as a form of post-exposure prevention if you haven’t already received two doses of mpox vaccine, and it has been less than two weeks (14 days) since your last contact with someone with mpox. Vaccination for post-exposure prevention is particularly effective if received within 4 days of contact with mpox, but still offers protection after this time. You can call ACT Health for advice about this.

Vaccination is free for eligible people. A consultation or administration fee may apply.

Find out more information about mpox vaccination.

Contacting ACT Health

You can contact ACT Health by calling 02 5124 9213.

If you need support

You can get support by emailing wellbeingservices@meridianact.org.au.

Read more about getting help for your mental health.

If you need immediate mental health support call Access Mental Health on 1800 629 354.

Further information

You can find more information about mpox here.

In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) straight away.

If you need help in your language, call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 13 14 50.