Is mpox the same as monkeypox?

Yes. Mpox and monkeypox are the same disease. The World Health Organization renamed it to mpox in November 2022 because the old name was being used in racist and stigmatising ways. Current Australian, WHO, and international communications all use mpox. Older fact sheets and pages from 2022 still use monkeypox.

When should I see a doctor about a rash?

See a doctor as soon as possible if you have any new, painful, or unusual rash, lesion, ulcer, or sore that you can't explain, especially on or near the genitals, anus, mouth, or hands. Don't wait to see if it goes away on its own. New rashes plus fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, or rectal pain need same-day or urgent assessment. Mpox lesions can look like other things (syphilis, herpes, varicella, drug eruptions) and only swab testing can sort them out.

I only got one dose of the mpox vaccine in 2022. Do I need to start over?

No. There's no upper limit on the interval between doses of MVA-BN/JYNNEOS. Get the second dose whenever you can. One dose then a second dose, even years apart, counts as the standard two-dose course. Your GP, sexual health clinic, or LGBTIQ+ friendly clinic can do this through a normal appointment.

Who should get the mpox vaccine in Australia in 2026?

Current ATAGI and ASHM guidance recommends vaccination for sexually active gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, and trans and non-binary people who have sex with men, with any risk markers including living with HIV, being on PrEP or PrEP-eligible, recent notifiable STI, multiple sexual partners, attending sex-on-premises venues, group sex, or planning sexual contact while travelling to countries with current mpox transmission. Eligibility also extends to sex workers, high-risk close contacts of confirmed cases, and healthcare or laboratory workers handling mpox samples.

Does the mpox vaccine work against the new clade Ib strain?

Yes. The MVA-BN/JYNNEOS vaccine targets shared orthopoxvirus antigens and is expected to protect against both clade IIb (the 2022 strain) and clade Ib (the newer Central African strain). The same two-dose schedule applies regardless of which clade is circulating. Real-world effectiveness against symptomatic infection sits in the approximate range of 60 to 85 percent in published cohorts. Treat the vaccine as very good, not bulletproof.

For most people, mpox is managed at home with rest, proper pain relief, and time. Lesions can be genuinely painful, particularly anal and genital ones, so don't undersell analgesia. Your GP can prescribe pain relief, stool softeners for perianal lesions, and a sick leave certificate. A small number of people need hospital care for pain control, secondary infection, or because they're immunocompromised. An antiviral called tecovirimat is available in Australia under restricted access for severe cases only.

I'm travelling overseas. What do I need to know about mpox?

The highest-risk regions for mpox exposure in 2026 are parts of Central and East Africa, particularly the Democratic Republic of the Congo and surrounding countries (clade Ib outbreak). Clade IIb continues to circulate at low levels globally. Before travel, check Smartraveller and WHO mpox situation reports for your destination. Finish your two-dose MVA-BN course at least two weeks before departure to give immunity time to develop. If you develop a new rash, fever, or swollen lymph nodes after travel, see a doctor early and tell them where you've been.

Mpox In 2026: Where We Are Now

Hey team. Time for a proper catch-up on mpox.

The pages on this site about mpox were written in August and November 2022, in the middle of the first global outbreak. A lot of what’s on those pages still holds up clinically. The rash still looks the same, transmission still works the same way, the vaccine is still the same vaccine. But the picture around it has shifted, and a few things need correcting for 2026.

If you read the older pages, you’ll see the disease called “monkeypox” or “MPX” throughout. The World Health Organization renamed it to “mpox” in late 2022 to move away from the stigma and inaccuracy of the old name. I’ll use mpox from here on. Same virus, better name.

See a doctor about any painful, new, or unusual rash

Don't wait. Don't assume it's "probably nothing." If you've got a new, painful, or unusual rash, lesion, ulcer, or sore anywhere on your body, get it looked at by a doctor as soon as possible. Particularly on or near the genitals, anus, mouth, or hands.

Mpox isn't the only thing that causes rashes like this. Syphilis, herpes, varicella, drug reactions, and a long list of other conditions can look similar. Only a clinical assessment and a swab can sort out what's going on.

Get same-day or urgent assessment if a new rash comes with fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, or rectal pain. Call ahead to your GP, sexual health clinic, or emergency department so they can prepare the room properly.

Here’s where we are now.

What’s actually changed since 2022

Three big things.

First, the rename. Mpox is the official term globally. Some health departments still use “monkeypox” in legacy fact sheets, but every current Australian and WHO communication uses mpox.

Second, a new strain. In 2023 and 2024, a different clade of the virus, called clade Ib, started causing a large outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and surrounding countries in Central and East Africa. This is a different beast from the clade IIb that drove the 2022 global outbreak. Clade I has historically caused more severe illness, although the picture with clade Ib in this outbreak is still being worked out. The WHO re-declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern over clade Ib in August 2024.

Third, mpox isn’t gone here either. After the 2022 outbreak died down, case numbers in Australia dropped to near zero through most of 2023. They climbed again in 2024, with NSW and Victoria seeing the bulk of locally acquired cases, almost all in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. State health departments responded with renewed vaccination pushes through 2024 and into 2025. If you want the current numbers for your state, NSW Health and the Victorian Department of Health both publish weekly mpox surveillance updates.

So mpox is now something that sits in the background of our community’s sexual health, a bit like syphilis. Not roaring, not gone, and worth taking seriously.

Clade I versus clade II: the short version

Two clades of mpox virus are circulating globally right now.

Clade II (specifically clade IIb) is what drove the 2022 outbreak and what we’ve mostly seen in Australia. Spread predominantly through sexual networks. Most people recover at home over 2 to 4 weeks. Severe disease and death are uncommon in otherwise healthy adults.

Clade I (specifically clade Ib) is the strain behind the 2023 to 2024 Central African outbreak. Historically clade I has caused more severe disease. Clade Ib has been detected in travellers returning from affected regions to Europe, the UK, the US, and a small number of cases have now been picked up in Australia in returned travellers. Sustained local transmission of clade Ib in Australia hasn’t taken off the way clade IIb did in 2022, but it’s something the surveillance system is watching closely.

The good news, and this is important: the JYNNEOS/MVA-BN vaccine works against both clades. Same vaccine, same schedule.

Current mpox vaccination: who, what, how

The vaccine used in Australia is MVA-BN, the modified vaccinia Ankara vaccine made by Bavarian Nordic. You’ll see it called JYNNEOS in some places and Imvanex in others. In Australia it’s most commonly referred to as JYNNEOS or MVA-BN. Either way, same product.

The current schedule is two doses, given at least 28 days apart, subcutaneously. The supply-rationing era of 2022 to 2023, when some clinics used the intradermal fractional-dose approach to stretch supply, is over in Australia. Standard subcutaneous administration is back.

Who should be vaccinated in 2026 (current ATAGI and ASHM guidance):

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, and trans and non-binary people who have sex with men, who are sexually active and meet any of the following: living with HIV; on PrEP or PrEP-eligible; have had a notifiable STI in the past 12 months; have multiple sexual partners; attend sex-on-premises venues; engage in group sex; or are planning sexual contact with new partners while travelling to a country with current mpox transmission.
Sex workers whose work involves the populations above.
Anyone identified as a high-risk close contact of a confirmed case, for post-exposure vaccination, ideally within 4 days of exposure.
Healthcare and laboratory workers who handle mpox samples or treat infected patients.

If you got both doses back in 2022 or 2023, current Australian guidance does not routinely recommend a booster for the general at-risk community. ATAGI is reviewing booster data as it emerges, particularly around protection against clade I. For now, two doses remains the standard course. If you’re significantly immunocompromised, talk to your usual doctor. Different rules can apply.

One correction I want to make to my own older material. In 2022 I shared notes from a community forum that framed the vaccine as offering essentially lifelong protection. That framing was stronger than the evidence supported even at the time, and it’s clearly too strong now. Two doses of MVA-BN gives good protection against symptomatic mpox, especially severe disease, but real-world effectiveness varies between studies (roughly 60% to 85% against infection in published cohorts), and protection against the newer clade I is still being characterised. Treat the vaccine as very good, not bulletproof.

“I only ever got one dose”: what to do

This is the most common question I get in clinic about mpox in 2026. Lots of people got their first dose in the 2022 rush, then didn’t get the second.

Get the second dose. There’s no upper limit on the interval. You don’t need to restart the course. One MVA-BN, then a second one whenever you can get there, gives you the standard two-dose course. Talk to your GP, sexual health clinic, or any of the LGBTIQ+ friendly clinics that have been running mpox vaccination. Most clinics in Sydney and Melbourne can do this through your usual appointment.

If you’ve never been vaccinated and you fit the eligibility above, start now. Two doses, 28 days apart minimum.

If you had mpox infection in the past, current Australian guidance is that you’ve likely got some natural immunity but vaccination is still recommended in line with the eligibility criteria above. Past infection isn’t a reason to skip the vaccine.

When to test and what testing looks like

The clinical picture is broadly the same as 2022. You can read the symptoms page for the rash detail. That part still holds.

When to see a doctor straight away

Any new, painful, or unusual rash, lesion, ulcer, or sore needs medical assessment. Don't try to diagnose it yourself. Don't wait it out at home. Particularly if it's on or near your genitals, anus, mouth, or hands.

Book a same-day appointment with your GP or sexual health clinic. Phone ahead so they can prepare a room and have the right swab supplies ready. If you can't get a same-day appointment and you're systemically unwell (fever, severe pain, can't swallow, can't pass stool), go to an emergency department.

Get tested if you have:

A new rash, lesion, ulcer, or sore anywhere on your body that you can’t explain, especially on or near the genitals, anus, mouth, or hands.
A new rash plus fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, or rectal pain.
Known close contact with someone with confirmed mpox in the past 21 days, even if you feel fine.

Testing is by PCR swab of the lesion. It’s a quick swab of the base of a lesion or fluid from a blister. Sexual health clinics, GPs, and emergency departments can all collect the swab. Results usually come back within a few days. While you’re waiting, isolate from skin-to-skin contact and avoid sex.

If your test comes back positive, public health will be in touch. Mpox is notifiable in every Australian state and territory. Contact tracing is done sensitively. The days of names being shared inappropriately are gone, and the system has had three years to mature.

Treatment

For most people, mpox is managed at home with rest, pain relief, and time. Lesions are often genuinely painful, especially anal and genital ones, and your GP can help with proper analgesia, stool softeners if you’ve got perianal lesions, and sick leave certificates.

A small number of people need hospital care, usually for pain control, secondary bacterial infection, or because they’re immunocompromised. Antiviral options (tecovirimat) exist in Australia under restricted access for severe cases. Most people won’t need them.

Travel in 2026: read the room before you go

The travel risk profile has shifted since 2022. Back then the hot spots were Europe and North America. In 2026, the highest-risk regions for clade I mpox exposure are parts of Central and East Africa, particularly the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and neighbouring countries. Clade II continues to circulate at low levels globally.

Practical steps before international travel, especially if you’re planning sex with new partners overseas:

Check Smartraveller and the WHO mpox situation reports for current outbreak status in your destination.
Make sure both MVA-BN doses are completed before you travel, ideally with the second dose at least 2 weeks before departure to give immunity time to develop.
Pack condoms and lube. Layered prevention is the point. Vaccine plus barriers plus communication with partners about recent illness or rashes does the heavy lifting together, not separately.
If you develop a new rash, fever, or swollen lymph nodes after travel, see a doctor early. Tell them where you’ve been.

How mpox spreads hasn’t changed since 2022. Skin-to-skin contact during sex remains the dominant transmission route in our community. The basics still work.

The short version

Mpox is the current name. The old “monkeypox” and “MPX” terms are out.
Two clades are circulating: clade IIb (the 2022 strain) and clade Ib (the newer Central African strain). Both are covered by the same vaccine.
Cases in Australia ticked back up in 2024 and 2025, mostly in gay and bi men. They haven’t gone away.
The current vaccine schedule is two MVA-BN doses, at least 28 days apart, subcutaneously. No routine booster recommended for most people in 2026.
If you got one dose in 2022 and never came back for the second, get it now. No need to restart.
Any new, painful, or unusual rash needs a doctor’s eyes on it. Don’t wait it out at home.
Travelling somewhere with current mpox transmission? Finish the vaccine course at least 2 weeks before you go.

Look after yourselves and each other. Get the rash checked.

Dr George

Where to get vaccinated or tested

Any GP or sexual health clinic that does routine LGBTIQ+ sexual health can vaccinate and test. In Sydney and Melbourne, most of the community-facing clinics offer mpox vaccination through standard appointments. Bulk-billing arrangements vary, so check when you book.

Sources

Australian Department of Health and Aged Care — mpox health alerts and surveillance updates (health.gov.au)
ATAGI — clinical advice on mpox vaccination
ASHM — mpox clinical resources and clinician guidance
NSW Health — mpox surveillance and vaccination program updates
Victorian Department of Health — mpox surveillance and vaccination guidance
World Health Organization — mpox situation reports and PHEIC declarations (2024)
Therapeutic Goods Administration — MVA-BN (JYNNEOS) product information

This information is general in nature and not a substitute for personalised medical advice. If you have any new, painful, or unusual rash, lesion, ulcer, or sore, please see a doctor. Speak to your GP about your specific situation.

— Dr George Forgan-Smith, GP, practising in Sydney and Melbourne