Primary health and sexual health care

 Clinicians are asked to look out for signs and symptoms consistent with mpox.

This is particularly important when seeing patients from groups disproportionately impacted by the current global mpox outbreak, which includes:

  • men who have sex with men (MSM)
  • people who have sex with MSM including transgender, cisgender and non-binary people
  • anyone with two or more sexual partners or any anonymous sexual partners.

Information about all recent travel, sexual history and smallpox immunisation history should be collected where mpox is suspected.

Ensure that appropriate infection prevention controls such as a well-fitting mask and good hand hygiene are in place ahead of the consultation.

If mpox is suspected

When testing for MPX, clinicians should assess the case against the risk assessment criteria available in the Communicable Diseases Manual and on Healthify.

Based on this assessment, inform the  case whether they are required to isolate while their test result is awaited.

All cases under investigation should be advised to avoid close contact (including kissing or sexual contact).

Confirmed cases are required to isolate for a minimum of seven days from onset of the first lesion or sign of skin rash.

From day eight onwards, clinicians should then assess whether the case needs to isolate for longer, or if they can leave isolation with precautions in place to prevent spreading the virus to others. 

Read more about people with mpox and isolation guidance.

Patients at higher risk of severe disease

While most people fully recover from mpox with supportive care only, some people are at an increased risk of potentially severe disease outcomes from mpox.

We encourage healthcare providers who assess any suspected cases who meet any of the following criteria to have a further discussion with an infectious diseases or sexual health specialist about appropriate treatment options.

This includes people who are:

  • Severely immunocompromised
  • Children under 10 years of age
  • Pregnant
  • Older adults, particularly anyone over 60 years of age and Māori or Pacific peoples over 50 years of age
  • Experiencing distressing symptoms or complications (eg, particularly uncomfortable lesions)

This is a guiding list based on the limited information currently available due to the relatively new nature of the mpox outbreak from the current viral variant.

Healthcare providers are encouraged to seek further advice about anyone else for who they hold a clinical uncertainty, but does not otherwise fall into the above criteria of being at risk of severe disease.