Monkeypox (mpox)

Quick Links to Mpox Information

Mpox Resources

About Mpox

Monkeypox (mpox) is a rare disease that is caused by infection with monkeypox virus. Mpox belongs to the Orthopox genus, which also includes smallpox and cowpox. Mpox cases in humans in the U.S. have been linked to international travel as well as imported animals.

Mpox Cases in Maine

Confirmed and Probable Mpox Cases in Maine (Updated 1/11/2023)
County Number of Confirmed and Probable Cases*
Androscoggin 2
Aroostook 2
Cumberland 3
Hancock 1
Knox 1
Sagadahoc 1
York 3
Total 13

*Cases may be reassigned to other states upon investigation.

Maine CDC currently updates this case count as data becomes available.

Symptoms

Mpox symptoms can include:

  • Fever and chills

    Fever and chills

  • Headache

    Headache

  • Muscle and backache

    Muscle aches and backache

  • Swollen lymph nodes

    Swollen lymph nodes

  • Exhaustion

    Exhaustion

Mpox also includes a rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus. See examples of mpox rash here.

The rash goes through different stages before healing completely. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. Sometimes, people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience the rash.

Transmission

Mpox virus can spread:

  • When a person comes in contact with an infected animal
  • Through direct contact with body fluid or sores of an infected person
  • Through direct contact with contaminated materials, such as clothing or bedding
  • Through respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face contact with an infected person

What Should I Do If I Have Mpox?

Talk to a healthcare provider if you think you have mpox. Mpox can occur at the same time as other infections, like sexually transmitted infections. This includes gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and HIV. You healthcare provider may also test and treat you for other infections.

How do I Isolate?

If you have mpox or mpox symptoms, isolate at home away from others.

  • Monkeypox rash
    • Isolate until your rash is fully healed (scabs fallen off and a fresh layer of skin forms).
    • Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water.
  • Home
    • Stay in a separate room or area from other household members and pets.
    • Limit using shared household areas as much as possible.
    • Do not have visitors in your home during isolation.
  • Family and pets

      Avoid close contact with other people in your home.

      Avoid close contact with pets in your home.

      Close contact is being within 6 feet of someone with mpox.

  • Couch

      Avoid sharing items with other people in your home that could become contaminated (bedding, clothing, towels and wash cloths, drinking glasses, eating utensils, and others).

      Use coversheets, waterproof mattress covers, blankets, or tarps over any surface that cannot be washed (like upholstered furniture or porous surfaces).

  • Healthcare

      You can leave your home and sick room for emergency or necessary medical care.

      If you need to leave your home during isolation, cover any skin rash with bandages, long pants and long sleeves, or dress. Also wear a well-fitting mask.

  • Toilet

For more information about mpox isolation, visit Isolation and Prevention Practices for People with Mpox.

Contact a healthcare provider right away if:

  • You have blood in your urine.
  • You have difficulty urinating.
  • You are unable to retract your foreskin.
  • Your foreskin cannot return to a normal position after being retracted.
  • You are unable to pass a bowel movement.
  • You have blood in your stool.
  • You develop diarrhea.
  • You have pain that you cannot manage at home.

Mpox Vaccine

    In Maine, the mpox vaccine, Jynneos, is available to individuals of all ages who meet at least one of the below criteria:

    1. Gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men.
    2. Transgender, gender non-conforming, or non-binary individuals who have sex with men.
    3. Any individual who has or who anticipates having:
      • multiple sexual partners, or
      • anonymous sexual partners, or
      • sexual partners from an app.
    4. Any individual who is or anticipates being a sexual partner of a person in categories 1, 2, or 3.
    5. Individuals exposed to someone with mpox in the past 14 days who were notified of the exposure by a:
      • public health agency, or
      • person with mpox.

    If you think you meet these criteria, contact one of the sites in the table below.

    Mpox Vaccine Locations in Maine
    County Healthcare Provider Address Phone Number to Schedule
    Androscoggin Maine Family Planning 179 Lisbon St. Lewiston, ME 04240 (207) 922-3222
    Cumberland City of Portland STD Clinic 39 Forest Ave. Portland, ME 04101 (207) 756-8067
    Cumberland Greater Portland Health 100 Brickhill Ave. Suite 301 South Portland, ME 04106 (207) 874-2141
    Cumberland Intermed Family Practice 100 Foden Road East, Suite 203, South Portland, ME 04106 (207) 874-1489
    Cumberland Intermed Internal Medicine 84 Marginal Way, Suite 800, Portland, ME 04101 (207) 523-8595
    Cumberland Intermed Yarmouth Family Practice 259 Main Street, Yarmouth, ME 04096 (207) 846-9013
    Cumberland Spring Street Health Center 49B Spring Street, Suite 102, Scarborough, ME 04074 (207) 396-7300
    Schedule your appointment here
    Kennebec Maine Family Planning 43 Gabriel Dr. Augusta, ME 04330 (207) 922-3222
    Penobscot Maine Family Planning 68 Mount Hope Ave. Bangor, ME 04401 (207) 922-3222
    Penobscot Northern Light Pharmacy - Westgate 917 Union St., Suite 7, Bangor, ME 04401 (207) 973-6788 Appointments available Mondays. Schedule your appointment here
    York Local Roots Health Care 12 Depot St. Kennebunk, ME 04043 (207) 569-2021
    Schedule your appointment here
    York York County EMA's Sanford Vaccine Clinic 1364 Main Street, Suite 7, Sanford, ME 04073 (at Shaw's Plaza) Walk-in appointments available Tuesdays and Thursdays 1 pm to 6 pm AND Saturdays 10am to 3:30 pm

    To be fully vaccinated for mpox, you need to receive two vaccine doses about four weeks apart. You are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after your second vaccine. You will receive instructions on how to schedule your second vaccine appointment when you get your first shot.

Mpox Symptom Relief

    Ways to Make Yourself More Comfortable If You Have Mpox Symptoms:

    • Drink plenty of water and other clear fluids to prevent dehydration.
    • Keep sores clean and dry when you are not showering or bathing.
    • Your healthcare provider may talk to you about using these steps based on your symptoms:
      • Itching
        • Use over-the-counter oral antihistamines (like diphenhydramine/Benedryl, cetirizine, or hydroxyzine).
        • Use topical ointments like calamine lotion or petroleum jelly (Vaseline, etc.)
      • Mouth pain or sores
        • Use prescription mouthwash. This helps mouth pain and keeps sores clean.
        • Use topical over-the-counter oral gels to reduce pain (like Orajel). Talk to your healthcare provider about how much to use.
      • Sores in the genital or anal regions
        • Use warm sitz baths.
        • Use topical pain-relief gels or creams (like RectiCare) to provide temporary relief.
      • Proctitis (swelling of the lining of the rectum internal to the anus)
        • Use stool softeners like docusate and warm sitz baths.
        • Use over-the-counter pain medications like acetopminophen.
        • Your healthcare provider may prescribe other pain medications. Discuss side effects with them before taking any other medications.
      • Nausea and/or vomiting
        • Talk to your healthcare provider about prescription medications to control nausea.
      • Diarrhea
        • Drink plenty of water and fluids with electrolytes to stay hydrated.
        • Over-the-counter medications are not recommended.
      • Bacterial infections
        • Talk to your healthcare provider about if and when you may need antibiotics.

Mpox Treatment in Maine

    Many people with mpox only have mild symptoms. Most people with mpox recover fully within 2 to 4 weeks. Most do not need medical treatment.

    Mpox treatment includes supportive care to manage symptoms like pain and rashes. There is also a medication that specifically targets the monkeypox virus (antiviral).

    This medication was originally developed to protect against smallpox. It can also be used to prevent and treat monkeypox virus infections.

    Antivirals, like tecovirimat (TPOXX), are recommended for people who are more likely to get severely ill. This includes:

    • People who are hospitalized for severe mpox symptoms
    • People who have a weakened immune system
    • People with certain skin conditions
    • People who are pregnant or breastfeeding
    • People with certain complications

    If you have symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider. They may want to test you, even if you do not remember having contact with someone with mpox.

    If you have mpox, ask your healthcare provider if mpox treatment is right for you.

    These locations have TPOXX available for treating patients seen at their location. Please contact the facility beforehand to find out how to access care at that location.

    Locations offering mpox treatment with TPOXX
    County Facility Address Contact Information
    All counties Northern Light Health Virtual Walk-In Care Virtual care option 833-217-9640, option #1
    Androscoggin Central Maine Medical Center 300 Main Street, Lewiston 207-795-0111
    Aroostook Northern Light Walk-In Care AR Gould 118 Bennett Drive, Caribou 207-498-3502
    Aroostook Northern Light Walk-In Care AR Gould 23 North Street, Suite 2, Presque Isle 207-760-9278
    Cumberland Bridgton Hospital 10 Hospital Drive, Bridgton 207-647-6000
    Cumberland ConvenientMD Brunswick 193 Bath Road, Brunswick 207-424-2272 More Information
    Cumberland ConvenientMD Portland 191 Marginal Way, Portland 207-517-3838 More Information
    Cumberland ConvenientMD Westbrook 950 Main Street, Westbrook 207-517-3800 More Information
    Cumberland Greater Portland Health 100 BrickHill Avenue, South Portland 207-874-2141
    Cumberland Maine Medical Center Spring Street Health Center 49 Spring Street, Suite 102, Scarborough 207-396-7300
    Cumberland Maine Medical Center Urgent Care Plus 335 Brighton Avenue, Portland 207-662-8111
    Cumberland Northern Light Mercy Walk-In Care Gorham 74 County Road South, Gorham Crossing, Gorham 207-535-1400
    Cumberland Northern Light Mercy Walk-In Care Windham 408 Roosevelt Trail, Windham 207-400-8600
    Cumberland Portland Public Health Center STD Clinic 39 Forest Avenue, Portland 207-874-8446, 207-756-8067
    Hancock ConvenientMD Ellsworth 235 High Street, Ellsworth 207-412-5200 More Information
    Hancock Northern Light Walk-In Care Maine Coast 32 Resort Way, Ellsworth 207-664-7751
    Hancock Northern Light Walk-In Care Maine Coast 45 Herrick Road, Southwest Harbor 207-244-5513
    Kennebec ConvenientMD Augusta 4 Whitten Road, Augusta 207-466-2400 More Information
    Kennebec Northern Light Walk-In Care Inland 174 Kennedy Memorial Drive, Waterville 207-861-6140
    Kennebec MaineGeneral Express Care Augusta 15 Enterprise Drive, Augusta 207-621-8880
    Kennebec MaineGeneral Express Care Gardiner 5 Central Maine Crossing, Gardiner 207-588-3530
    Kennebec MaineGeneral Express Care Waterville 211 Main Street, Waterville 207-877-3450
    Kennebec MaineGeneral Express Care Winthrop 16 Commerce Plaza Suite 3, Winthrop 207-377-1450
    Kennebec MaineGeneral Medical Center Alfond Center for Health 35 Medical Center Parkway, Augusta 207-248-5000
    Kennebec MaineGeneral Medical Center Horizon Clinic 21 Enterprise Drive, Augusta 207-248-0460
    Kennebec MaineGeneral Medical Center Thayer Center for Health 149 North Street, Waterville 207-872-1300
    Oxford Rumford Hospital 420 Franklin Street, Rumford 207-369-1000
    Penobscot ConvenientMD Bangor 543 Broadway, Bangor 207-922-1300 More Information
    Penobscot Northern Light Walk-In Care Bangor 915 Union Street, Suite 4, Bangor 207-973-8030
    Penobscot Saint Joseph Hospital 900 Broadway, Bangor 207-907-1013
    York ConvenientMD Saco 506 Main Street, Saco 207-751-7991 More Information
    York ConvenientMD Sanford 1420 Main Street, Sanford 207-850-5744 More Information
    York York Hospital Berwick Walk-In Care 4 Dana Drive, Berwick 207-361-3846
    York York Hospital Emergency Care Loving Kindness Drive, York 207-351-2334
    York York Hospital Infectious Disease 12 Hospital Drive, Suite A, York 207-351-3530
    York York Hospital Sanford Walk-In Care 1474 Main Street, Sanford 207-361-3846
    York York Hospital Walk-In Care 343 US Route 1, York 207-361-3846
    York York Hospital Wells Emergent Care 114 Sanford Road, Wells 207-351-2334

    These locations have TPOXX available to give to patients with a prescription. Please contact the facility beforehand to find out if you can fill your prescription at that location.

    Locations that can fill a prescription for TPOXX
    County Facility Address Contact Information
    Androscoggin Central Maine Medical Center Pharmacy 12 High Street, Lewiston 207-795-7177
    Androscoggin Walgreens 430 Sabattus Street, Lewiston 207-783-2013
    Cumberland Northern Light Pharmacy Fore River 195 Fore River Parkway, Suite 170, Portland 207-535-1600 More information
    Cumberland Portland Public Health Center STD Clinic 39 Forest Avenue, Portland 207-874-8446, 207-756-8067
    Cumberland Walgreens 127 Marginal Way, Portland 207-771-5631
    Cumberland Walgreens 616 Forest Avenue, Portland 207-761-9454
    Hancock Walgreens 226 High Street, Ellsworth 207-664-0952
    Penobscot Northern Light Pharmacy State Street 210 State Street, Bangor 207-947-8369 More information
    York Walgreens 1036 Post Road, Wells 207-646-6894
    York Walgreens 400 US Route 1, York 207-363-4312
    York York Hospital Apothecary Loving Kindness Way, York 207-351-2314

    For healthcare providers who would like to prescribe TPOXX, visit the clinician information page for more information about prescribing this medication.

Information for Healthcare Providers

Resources

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