Information for people diagnosed with mpox (monkeypox) virus

If your test is positive for mpox, you will be contacted by public health, who will provide advice about staying at home and leaving the house for essential activities. Public health may also contact you to monitor your symptoms and ensure you are well.

Stay at home and follow public health advice

A person with mpox should stay at home, except for undertaking essential activities (see below) and follow public health advice while they have symptoms and until they are cleared by public health. This includes doing the following:

  • Sleep in a separate room away from people they live with and limit contact with household members.
  • Avoid physical or intimate contact with others including sexual activity.
  • Avoid any interaction with people at higher risk of severe disease, including people with low immunity, pregnant women, older people and young children.
  • Avoid contact with animals, particularly dogs and rodents (mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, squirrels, etc), due to the possibility of human-to-animal transmission. This includes sleeping in a separate room away from pets. It is possible for mpox to be passed from human to animals through household contact such as petting and cuddling.
  • Wear a mask when in the same room as others and cover skin lesions (where possible).
  • Avoid touching their face or rubbing their eyes, especially if blisters are present on or near their eyes.
  • Do not share clothing, bedding, towels and unwashed crockery and cutlery. If others must touch these items, they should wear gloves and a surgical mask.
  • Do not share toothbrushes, razors, towels, wash cloths or other personal items with others.
  • Visitors to the home should be discouraged.
  • Work from home.
  • Practise careful hand and respiratory hygiene. Clean hands frequently using alcohol-based hand sanitiser or soap and water. Cover mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing with disposable tissues. Dispose of used tissues into a rubbish bag and clean hands

A person with mpox should not:

  • Attend settings such as early childhood education and care services, aged care and disability care facilities, healthcare settings, and schools, especially settings with young children and vulnerable people (people with low immunity, older people and pregnant women), including for routine appointments, unless seeking medical attention.
  • Donate any human tissue including blood, cells, tissue, breast milk, semen, or organs while unwell and for 12 weeks following clearance.

Essential activities:

  • A person with mpox should only leave the home for essential activities in non-crowded settings including to buy groceries, medicines or for solo outdoor exercise.
  • A person with mpox should avoid appointments that can be postponed, particularly those in high-risk settings such as healthcare, educational or aged care settings, unless seeking medical attention.
  • If medical attention is required where mpox is suspected or known, the person should call ahead to advise the practice.
  • If a person with mpox needs to leave the home for essential activities, they should:
    • Wear a surgical mask
    • Ensure any rash or lesions are covered e.g. non-stick dressings, long sleeves, long pants
    • Avoid close contact with others
    • Avoid public transport if lesions cannot be completely covered

If a person with mpox cannot work from home, the public health unit may conduct a risk assessment on a case-by-case basis to inform whether they can attend the workplace.

For 12 weeks following clearance, people who have had mpox should:

  • Wear a condom during sexual activity (receptive and insertive oral/anal/vaginal sex).
  • Not donate blood, cells, tissue, breast milk, semen or organs.
Cleaning advice
How will I know that I no longer have mpox?
What happens when my self-isolation has finished?
Last reviewed: 26-06-2024

This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

See also