If you have symptoms or have been a close contact of someone with monkeypox, contact a health worker for advice, testing and medical care. Self-isolate where possible while waiting for a test and avoid close contact with others. Mention to your health care provider that you think your symptoms could be monkeypox or that you have been exposed.

Your health care provider will give you advice on how to take care of yourself and whether you should recover at home or in hospital. Keep hydrated, eat well and get enough sleep. Use medication for pain and fever if needed. Take care of your rash: avoid scratching; keep lesions dry and uncovered; clean rash with sterilized water/antiseptic; rinse lesions in your mouth with saltwater and take warm baths with baking soda/Epsom salts. If your symptoms get worse, contact your health worker immediately for advice.

If you have had close contact (including sex) with anyone in the previous 21 days, consider telling them about your diagnosis so that they can be alert to symptoms. Health workers might be able to help you pass on the information anonymously if you do not feel able to do so.

Having monkeypox can be distressing for the person affected and those around them. If someone discloses to you that they have monkeypox, react without being judgmental or making any assumptions about how they have become infected. Respect their wishes as to whether they want other people to know about their illness or not.

If you are isolating at home, protect others you live with by:

• Isolating in a separate room
• Using a separate bathroom, or cleaning after each use
• Cleaning frequently touched surfaces with soap and water and a household disinfectant and avoiding sweeping/vacuuming
• Using separate utensils, towels, objects, electronics and bedding
• Doing your own laundry, and putting materials in a plastic bag before carrying to the washing machine
• Opening windows throughout the house to keep the space well-ventilated

If you can’t avoid being in the same room as someone else, avoid touching, clean hands often, cover your rash with clothing or bandages, wear well-fitting medical masks and open windows.

Find answers to some of the most common questions on monkeypox here or read the WHO factsheet. Check your local official and community sources for updates on the situation near you. Many organizations supporting gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, including HIV support organizations around the world are already providing strong leadership in offering information and support to their communities to help prevent the spread of monkeypox. Their work, also increasingly supported by broader LGBTQIA+ organizations, is central to efforts to address stigma and discrimination as well as information sharing. Reach out to trusted organizations in your country to get more information.

Do all you can to help someone who is self-isolating, including helping with shopping and checking in with them regularly. Some people may struggle financially if they are unable to work during their isolation period; consider setting up support systems in whatever way you can in your community, if this is the case.

Giving people an opportunity to talk about their concerns and feelings can help. Encourage them to take care of their mental health, to eat well, stay hydrated and exercise if possible. More and more people are sharing their experiences online to help reduce stigma and feelings of shame that can arise.

People with underlying immune deficiencies may be at risk of more serious illness from monkeypox. People living with HIV who know their status and have access to and properly use treatment can reach the point of viral suppression. This means that their immune systems are less vulnerable to other infections than they would be without treatment. Studies are underway to better understand these questions. So far, men living healthily with HIV who have developed monkeypox in this outbreak have not reported worse health outcomes than others.