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While scientists continue to study if the virus can spread when someone has no symptoms and how the virus may spread through bodily fluids, including saliva and stool, there are steps you can take to protect yourself. To prevent the spread of mpox,  avoiding skin-to-skin contact with people who have , not touching objects or materials a person with mpox has used, including clothing or linens, and washing hands frequently.

°Õ³ó±ðÌý studied two roommates who tested positive for mpox to determine how household objects are affected by the presence of the virus. The roommates' routine cleaning and disinfection practices likely had an impact on decreasing the ability of the virus to live on surfaces, which meant indirect transmission to others by touching surfaces they also touched was less likely. Generally,  can help prevent the spread of germs.

As you're planning for back-to-school, vacations, and other gatherings, practice good personal hygiene, , and .

Myth 2: Mpox can spread through water.

Public health researchers conduct  to analyze used water from household appliances, sinks, toilets, businesses and other facilities to track the spread of COVID-19. Although SARS-CoV-2 can be shed in feces,  that individuals can get sick with COVID-19 because of direct exposure to treated or untreated wastewater. This is also thought to be the case for mpox –  to understand its levels in communities.

 is a nationwide initiative between Stanford University and Emory University that looks for both COVID-19 and mpox in wastewater. , an environmental microbiologist and epidemiologist at Emory who is working within the initiative, said, "We don't have any expectations or concerns about mpox spreading through drinking water."

Drinking water goes through , and its source is separate from wastewater. Public water systems , which is either surface water or ground water, so debris and bacteria are removed long before you fill your glass at the kitchen sink.

Myth 3: Mpox is a sexually transmitted disease.

Mpox is  and is currently not considered a sexually transmitted disease or infection. The CDC says that mpox can be , which can include . A study published in  found that, in 95% of cases, sexual contact was the most likely reason why a person in the study group caught the virus.

°Õ´ÇÌý of getting mpox at public venues, such as concerts, it's recommended to minimize skin-to-skin contact and to keep to venues where people will be fully clothed. Otherwise, keep to the back of the crowd and enjoy the extra space to dance. 

If you think you have been exposed to mpox or , such as an unexplained rash, fever, and chills, seek medical attention. Healthcare providers, like your physician or an emergency department clinician, can  and send that swab to a laboratory for testing, which will take a few days to process. You can schedule an appointment for a vaccine through your local or state health department if you know that you were exposed to monkeypox or are in one of the 

Virus outbreaks don't come with instruction booklets attached. But with the help of public health experts and dedicated researchers, we have ways to defend ourselves from getting sick.

This story was originally published on August 28, 2022, and updated on August 23, 2024.