Public health advice for people recovering from or caring for someone with mpox at home in low-resource settings

Overview

Mpox is a viral infection that can cause symptoms such as a painful rash, fever, headache, muscle ache, back pain, low energy, and swollen glands (lymph nodes). Most people fully recover from mpox; however, it can lead to severe illness among certain people. Children, pregnant individuals, and people with weakened immune systems, especially people living with uncontrolled HIV, are at greater risk of serious complications or death from mpox.

People at high risk of complications should seek professional health care and monitoring in a hospital or other health-care setting. However, most people with mpox will recover at home. For people recovering at home, safe and supported home isolation and proper care are essential to prevent the spread of the virus and to support full recovery.

This advice provides practical guidance based on current knowledge of mpox transmission and infection prevention and control measures for various environments. It is intended to support a timely and effective response to mpox outbreaks, especially in low-resource settings.

The document draws on the guidance published by WHO: Infection prevention and control and water, sanitation and hygiene measures during home care and isolation for mpox in resource-limited settings: interim operational guidance. It recognizes that many people with mpox living in low-resource settings may have severely inadequate and insecure housing, often in contexts of overcrowding and poor sanitation, which increases the risk of exposure to infectious diseases and stress. Inadequate water supply and sanitation facilities affect food safety and personal hygiene. They also affect people’s ability to manage privacy and confidentiality. All of these create additional challenges during a mpox outbreak.

This advice may evolve as more evidence becomes available. Keep updated at www.who.int.