傳播方式：
（一）人傳人：接觸感染者呼吸道分泌物、損傷的皮膚、黏膜或被汙染物品。猴痘可以透過密切接觸而傳播，例如經由親密接觸之性行為。性接觸為此波疫情主要傳播途徑。
（二）人畜共通傳染：直接接觸感染動物的血液、體液、損傷的皮膚或黏膜而被感染。食用受感染的動物肉類。
潛伏期約介於３至２１天。
猴痘預防方式：
（一）降低人際間傳播風險：猴痘主要透過密切接觸而傳播，應避免與猴痘患者進行皮膚直接接觸、親吻、 擁抱及性行為。保持良好手部衛生。
（二）降低人畜共通傳播風險：前往猴痘病毒流行地區時應避免接觸齧齒動物和靈長類動物以及生病或死亡動物。所有食物必須徹底煮熟後才能食用。
猴痘疫苗接種建議對象：
（一）暴露前預防：
(1) 正痘病毒屬之實驗室操作人員。
(2)與確診猴痘個案曾有任何形式性接觸之高風險接觸者，但未曾接種過暴露後預防(PEP)疫苗。
(3)近1年內有風險性行為者(如：多重性伴侶、性交易服務者、於營業場所發生性行為者等)； 過去曾罹患性病；或性接觸對象有前述任一情形者 。
(4) 照顧猴痘確診個案之醫療照護與清消人員，協助疑似猴痘個案檢體採檢或執行猴痘疫苗接種作業人員。
（二）暴露後預防：（應於最後一次接觸後四天內接種）。
(1) 同住家人。
(2) 曾有任何形式性接觸之性對象。
(3) 於個案執行會產生飛沫微粒(aerosol)之醫療措施時，與個案同一房間或相距2公尺內， 未穿戴N95面罩與護目鏡/面罩之執行醫療措施人員。
(4) 清掃被汙染的房間時無適當防護，可能吸入飛沫或揚塵者。
(5) 實驗室操作過程中曾於無適當防護狀況下暴露於具活性的猴痘病毒，或可能含有病毒之檢體者。
如出現皮膚病灶，例如：皮疹、水泡、斑疹、斑丘疹、膿疱等
以及發燒、畏寒/寒顫、頭痛、肌肉痛、背痛、關節痛、淋巴腺腫大(如耳周、腋窩、頸部或腹股溝等處)等疑似症狀，應佩戴口罩儘速就醫，並主動告知醫師旅遊史、高風險場域暴露史及接觸史。
Modes of transmission:
(1) Person-to-person: Contact with respiratory secretions, damaged skin, mucous membranes, or contaminated objects of an infected individual. Mpox can be transmitted through close contact, such as through intimate sexual contact. Sexual contact is the main mode of transmission in this outbreak.
(2) Zoonotic transmission: Direct contact with infected animal blood, bodily fluids, damaged skin, or mucous membranes. Consumption of infected animal meat.
The incubation period is approximately between 3 and 21 days.
Preventive measures for Mpox include:
(1) Reducing interpersonal transmission risk: Mpox primarily spreads through close contact. It is important to avoid direct skin contact, kissing, hugging, and sexual activity with Mpox patients. Maintaining good hand hygiene is crucial.
(2) Reducing zoonotic transmission risk: When visiting areas where Mpox virus is prevalent, avoid contact with rodents, primates, and sick or dead animals. All food must be thoroughly cooked before consumption.
Recommended recipients for Mpox vaccination are as follows:
PrEP:
(1) Laboratory personnel working with orthopoxviruses.
(2) High-risk contacts who have had any form of sexual contact with confirmed Mpox cases but have not received post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) vaccination.
(3) Individuals engaged in high-risk behaviors within the past year, such as having multiple sexual partners, engaging in sex work, or having sex in commercial establishments. Individuals with a history of sexually transmitted infections or engaging in sexual activity with partners meeting any of the aforementioned criteria.
(4) Healthcare and sanitation personnel involved in caring for confirmed Mpox cases, assisting with specimen collection from suspected cases, or administering Mpox vaccination.
PEP:(PEP should be administered within four days of the last contact.)
(1) Household members.
(2) Individuals who have had any form of sexual contact with a suspected Mpox case.
(3) Healthcare personnel who were in the same room as the case or within 2 meters during aerosol-generating medical procedures without wearing N95 masks and goggles/face shields. (4) Individuals involved in cleaning contaminated rooms without appropriate protection, potentially exposing them to inhalation of droplets or airborne particles.
(5) Individuals involved in laboratory procedures who were exposed to live Mypox virus under conditions without appropriate protection or who handled samples potentially containing the virus.
If you have suspected symptoms such as fever, chills/shivering, headache, muscle pain, back pain, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes (around the ears, armpits, neck, or groin) and any skin lesions, such as rashes, blisters, macules, maculopapular rashes, pustules, etc.
You should wear a mask and seek medical treatment as soon as possible and inform your doctor about your travel history and contact tracing.
Stay safe and take care.
