Mpox (monkeypox)

Information about the mpox, how mpox spreads, symptoms, vaccine eligibility and how to get vaccinated.

About mpox

Mpox is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus. Mpox cases have been reported in Canada, but the risk of exposure is low. Nova Scotia is working closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada to monitor the evolving situation.

Generally, mpox doesn't spread easily between people, but anyone who has close contact with an infected person (including household members or sexual partners) is at risk of infection. Many of the of mpox cases in Canada are people who identify as gay, bisexual or men who have sex with men, particularly among those who have multiple sexual partners.

Mpox isn’t exclusive to any group or setting. Right now, risk factors for Nova Scotians include out-of-province travel and sexual contact with someone who has mpox.

How mpox spreads

Mpox can spread through:

close contact during sexual activity with an infected person
respiratory droplets (like coughs or sneezes) during face-to-face contact with an infected person
direct contact with sores (including scabs or sores that are healing)
contact with contaminated items like bedding or clothing

Mpox symptoms

Mpox symptoms usually develop 3 to 21 days after exposure to the virus and happen in two stages. People can experience symptoms differently.

The first stage of symptoms can include:

fever
chills
swollen lymph nodes
headache
muscle pain
joint pain
back pain
cough
exhaustion
nausea, vomiting and diarrhea

The second stage of symptoms starts 1 to 3 days after the first stage and can include a rash or sores that usually starts on the face, legs or arms and can affect other parts of the body (including hands, feet, mouth and genitals).

Mpox sores can last 2 to 4 weeks. The sores will change appearance over time until they eventually form a scab and fall off.

If you have been exposed or become ill

Contact your healthcare provider or call 811 If you:

develop mpox symptoms
have come into contact with someone who has mpox

Public Health will contact all known contacts of cases.

If you have mpox, Public Health will provide you with guidance on self-isolation and monitoring.

Vaccine eligibility

People at highest risk of getting mpox can get 2 doses of the Imvamune^® vaccine in Nova Scotia before they are exposed. Imvamune^® is approved in Canada as a 2 dose vaccine series and can help protect against mpox. You need to wait at least 28 days between doses.

You can get the vaccine if you identify as a man who has sex with men and you meet 1 or more of the following criteria:

you have more than 1 sexual partner
you’re in a relationship where at least 1 of the partners has other sexual partners
you have been diagnosed with a bacterial sexually transmitted infection within the last year
you engaged in sexual contact in sex-on-site premises (like a bath house or sex club)

You can also get the vaccine (regardless of gender, sex assigned at birth or sexual orientation) if you:

have sexual contact with someone who meets the criteria
are a sex worker
participate in sex tourism (traveling for the purpose of engaging in sex)
work or volunteer in sex-on-site premises (like a bath house or sex club)

Learn more about vaccine eligibility: Vaccine Eligibility for Individuals at High Risk of Acquiring Vaccine Preventable Diseases (PDF)

Get vaccinated

You can get the Imvamune^® vaccine from your primary care provider or at a community pharmacy primary care clinic. Contact your primary care provider to book an appointment. Or book online for an appointment with a community pharmacy primary care clinic. It will take some time between booking the appointment and getting vaccinated due to vaccine storage requirements (the vaccine is stored in special freezers until closer to the date of use).

For additional information about clinic bookings (when available) please visit the Nova Scotia Health website at https://www.nshealth.ca/public-health-immunization-clinics for additional information. You can also get the Imvamune^® vaccine at some public health offices. Contact your local public health office to find out more.