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Monkeypox (mpox)
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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
Headache
Muscle aches and backache
Swollen lymph nodes
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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
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).
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.
Use a separate bathroom from others in your home, if possible.
If not possible, clean and disinfect surfaces (counters, toilet seats, faucets) with an EPA-registered cleaning product after using.
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
- You had known or suspected exposure to someone with mpox
- You had a sex partner in the past 2 weeks who was diagnosed with mpox
- You are a gay, bisexual, or other man who has sex with men or a transgender, nonbinary, or gender-diverse person who in the past 6 months has had any of the following:
- A new diagnosis of one or more sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis)
- More than one sex partner
- You have had any of the following in the past 6 months:
- Sex at a commercial sex venue (like a sex club or bathhouse)
- Sex related to a large commercial event or in a geographic area (city or county for example) where mpox virus transmission is occurring
- Sex in exchange for money or other items
- You have a sex partner with any of the above risks
- You anticipate experiencing any of the above scenarios
- You have HIV or other causes of immune suppression and have had recent or anticipate future risk of mpox exposure from any of the above scenarios
- You work in settings where you may be exposed to mpox:
- You work with orthopoxviruses in a laboratory
U.S. CDC recommends vaccination against mpox if:
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 Street, 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 | Greater Portland Health | 180 Park Ave, Portland, ME 04102 | (207) 874-2141 |
Cumberland | Greater Portland Health | 295 Park Ave, Portland, ME 04102 | (207) 874-2141 |
Cumberland | Greater Portland Health | 63 Preble St, Portland, ME 04101 | (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 |
Kennebec | Maine Family Planning | 43 Gabriel Drive, Augusta, ME 04330 | (207) 922-3222 |
Oxford | Sacopee Valley Health Center | 70 Main Street, Porter, ME 04068 | (207) 625-8126 |
Penobscot | Maine Family Planning | 68 Mount Hope Ave, Bangor, ME 04401 | (207) 922-3222 |
Penobscot | Northern Light Pharmacy - Westgate | 917 Union Street, Suite 7, Bangor, ME 04401 | (207) 973-6788 Appointments available Mondays. Schedule your appointment here |
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
- 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.
Ways to Make Yourself More Comfortable If You Have Mpox Symptoms:
Mpox Treatment in Maine
- 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
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:
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
More information for healthcare providers is available on the Clinician Information Page.
Resources
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