Mpox (monkeypox) virus

Commons signs and symptoms

• Fever 

• Chills

• Headache

• Muscle aches

• Exhaustion 

• Swollen lymph nodes 

• New rash or lesions--(usually appears a few days after other symptoms on the face and the extremities.) 

The incubation period (time between exposure/ infection and when symptoms begin) is typically six to 13 days, and can be up to 21 days. 

Mpox infection can appear similar to other infectious diseases, such as chickenpox, or several sexually transmitted infections (such as herpes or gonorrhea). This is why it's important to consult a health care provider and be tested.

If you think that you may have the signs and symptoms of mpox, and or are a close contact of someone who has confirmed mpox, please contact your health care provider for an assessment as soon as possible. Limit your contact with others and self-isolate.  

Most transmission of mpox in Canada has occurred between close contacts like intimate partners or household members.

Think you may have been exposed to mpox?

If you think you may have come in contact with someone who has symptoms of mpox, you should monitor yourself for symptoms for 21 days and contact Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744 for further assessment to see if post exposure prophylaxis, vaccination or testing is recommended.

If no symptoms appear after 21 days, you can continue with normal activities. If symptoms develop, you should self-isolate immediately and get tested for mpox.

How to get tested for mpox

There are two ways to get tested for mpox in Ottawa.

1. Contact your healthcare provider.
2. Contact Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744 for further assessment and book an appointment for mpox testing at the Sexual Health Clinic on 179 Clarence Street in Ottawa.

What to do if you have been tested for mpox

If you have been tested for mpox, it is important to self-isolate at home until you receive negative test results. Ottawa Public Health will follow up with you if your test result is positive and advise on next steps.

If you test positive for mpox you should self-isolate at home until lesion scabs have fallen off and new intact skin has formed below. This recovery period typically takes two to four weeks.

If you have been tested for mpox or are experiencing symptoms you should:

• Not attend work, school, or public areas

• Stay in a separate room or area away from other household members 

• Use a separate bathroom if available, including using separate towels

• If unable to separate from household members you should:

• Wear a medical mask

• Cover skin lesions as much as possible (e.g., long sleeves, long pants)

• Maintain a physical distance of at least two meters from others

• Avoid sexual contact

• Avoid leaving the home unless seeking urgent medical care

• Avoid household visitors

• Avoid contact with those at higher risk of severe mpox illness including people who are immunosuppressed or pregnant, and/or children under 12 years of age

• Avoid contact with animals, including household pets as the virus can be spread to animals.

  • Keep your pets in the home and if possible, ask someone else in the home who is not sick to care for the pet.
  • Avoid close contact or prolonged contact with pets including touching, snuggling and kissing.
  • If having to care for the pet, you should wear a mask and wash hands with soap and water immediately before and after touching pets, their food, or supplies. If lesions are present on the hands, wear disposable gloves.

How to prevent the spread of mpox

To lower your overall risk of getting infected with and spreading the monkeypox virus, we recommend to:

• Get vaccinated for mpox if eligible
• Use condoms
• Practice safe sex and having fewer sexual partners, particularly those who are anonymous, even when they don't have symptoms

• Follow good hand hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone who has or may have mpox. 
• Avoid skin to skin contact with mpox rashes or lesions.
• Avoid sharing objects such as toothbrushes, utensils, sex toys or drug equipment.
• Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces (such as door handles and phones).
• Avoid touching bedding and laundry that has been in contact with a person or animal that may have the virus.
• Avoid contact with sick or dead animals
• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for someone at home who has the virus, including a medical mask and disposable gloves for direct contact with lesions. 

Our observations are that close sexual contact remains the primary way that monkeypox is being transmitted in our community. If airborne transmission played a more significant role in overall transmission of mpox, we would anticipate a greater incidence of sporadic infections in the community across different age groups and demographics. 

In line with international trends, the majority of cases in Canada to date are men who reported intimate sexual contact with other men. However, it's important to stress that the risk of exposure to the mpox virus is not exclusive to any group or setting. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) the risk of infection is low for the general population.

Getting your mpox vaccine

• Please review the eligibility criteria for the Imvamune® vaccine before booking an appointment.

• You can book and/or cancel an appointment by telephone at 613-234-4641. 

• If you have signs and symptoms of mpox infection, please do NOT attend your appointment at an Imvamune® vaccine clinic. See recommendations if you think you are symptomatic.

Who can receive the Imvamune® vaccine for protection before an exposure to the mpox virus? 

Anyone who received one dose of the Imvamune® mpox vaccine can now receive a second dose at least 28 days after receiving their first dose. This includes individuals who received the vaccine for protection before or after an exposure to the mpox virus. 

Based on the Ontario Ministry of Health guidelines, the following groups are eligible for a 2-dose series of the Imvamune® vaccine for protection.

a) Two-spirited, non-binary, transgender, cisgender, intersex, or gender-queer individuals who self-identify or have sexual partners who self-identify as belonging to the gay, bisexual, pansexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM)
community AND at least one of the following:

• Had a confirmed sexually transmitted infection within the last year.
• Have or are planning to have two or more sexual partners or are in a relationship where at least one of the partners may have other sexual partners.
• Have attended venues for sexual contact (i.e., bath houses, sex clubs) recently or may be planning to, or who work/volunteer in these settings.
• Have had anonymous sex (e.g., using hookup apps) recently or may be planning to.
• Are a sexual contact of an individual who engages in sex work.

b) Individuals who self-identify as engaging in sex work or are planning to, regardless of self-identified sex or gender.

c) Household and/or sexual contacts of those identified for pre-exposure vaccination eligibility in parts (a) and/or (b) above AND who are moderately to severely immunocompromised or pregnant may be considered for pre-exposure vaccination. These individuals may be at higher risk for severe illness from a mpox infection and should contact their healthcare provider or Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744 for more information. 

Who can receive the vaccine for protection after being exposed to the mpox virus?

Imvamune® vaccine eligibility after being exposed to the mpox virus

If you have been identified as a high risk contact or an intermediate risk contact of a confirmed or probable case of mpox, you will be contacted by Ottawa Public Health directly and may be offered an appointment to receive the mpox vaccine for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).

View clinic location

Clinic location:

OPH Clinic - 179 Clarence Street, Ottawa

Second doses:

• If you are eligible for a second dose and received your vaccine outside of Ontario, call 613-234-4641 anytime Monday to Friday between 9:00 am and 3:30 pm to book a vaccine appointment. 
• All clients that are eligible for the vaccine who have an appointment at the OPH Sexual Health Clinic for other health concerns may be offered the vaccine as part of their visit if capacity and supply permits.

Who should not receive the Imvamune® mpox vaccine?

Anyone who does not meet the current eligibility criteria outlined by the Ontario Ministry of Health is not eligible to receive the mpox vaccine.

Individuals who have been a confirmed case of mpox in the current outbreak are NOT recommended to receive the mpox vaccine at this time; this is based on the limited utility of the vaccine given that these persons are expected to have natural immunity due to recent infection.

People with signs and symptoms of mpox infection should NOT receive the Imvamune mpox vaccine as it is not intended for the treatment of mpox. Do not attend an Imvamune clinic if you have symptoms.

People who have a confirmed allergy to any of the vaccine ingredients listed below or its container are not recommended to receive the mpox vaccine. Ingredients of the Imvamune® vaccine are:

• Tromethamine (trometamol, Tris)

• Sodium chloride

• Water for injection

• Hydrochloric acid

• Bromobutyl rubber stopper

Imvamune® may also contain trace amounts of gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and egg products (egg cell DNA and protein). As per the Ministry of Health, individuals with a known allergy to these ingredients are still able to safely receive Imvamune®.

People with a history of anaphylaxis after a previous dose of an Imvamune® vaccine are not recommended to receive the vaccine.

What should I expect after I receive the vaccine?

Side effects may develop in the few days after receiving the vaccine. Although most of these side effects are not serious to your health, they may make you feel unwell for a few days. The side effects should go away on their own.

Common side effects of Imvamune® include pain, swelling, redness and itchiness at the injection site where the needle was given. Applying a cool, damp cloth where the vaccine was given may help with pain and swelling.

Other common side effects can include fatigue, headache, body aches, nausea, loss of appetite, joint pain, chills and fever. If needed, pain or fever medication (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen) may help.

People who have atopic dermatitis (eczema) may experience more side effects than others and may also experience a flare-up or worsening of their condition.

If you develop any serious signs or symptoms that could be an allergic reaction within four hours of being vaccinated, call 9-1-1 right away. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include:

• Swelling of the face, tongue or throat
• Difficulty breathing or wheezing
• Hives (bumps on the skin that are often very itchy)

You should also seek medical attention right away if you develop any symptoms that could be related to your heart such as chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, and a fast or irregular heartbeat.

If you have concerns about the symptoms you develop after receiving the vaccine, contact your healthcare provider. Any adverse events following vaccination should be reported to your local public health unit.

Is the vaccine safe and effective?

Yes, Imvamune® is safe to receive. If you received another vaccination in the past 4 weeks, please let your health care provider know before getting Imvamune®. If you are less than 18 years of age, pregnant, breastfeeding, or are immunocompromised you should speak to your health care provider. Your health care provider will review the risks and benefits of receiving the mpox vaccine.

We know that vaccination is not a 100% guarantee of not being infected with the virus that causes mpox. A single dose is expected to provide reasonable protection by two to four weeks following vaccination. A second dose produces a slightly higher response and may provide longer-lasting protection. It takes around 14 days for your immune system to build up protective immunity to mpox. Waiting a full month after vaccination before resuming higher risk sexual contact, using condoms, staying home when having symptoms and having fewer sexual partners helps lower the risk of getting mpox.