From the Research
The incubation period for mpox typically ranges from 7 to 10 days, with a median incubation period of 7 to 10 days. This is based on the most recent and highest quality study available, which was published in 2024 1. The incubation period is the time between when a person is exposed to the virus and when they begin showing symptoms. During this incubation period, infected individuals are generally not considered contagious.
Key Points
- The incubation period varies between individuals due to factors such as the route of transmission, viral dose received during exposure, and the person's immune status.
- Understanding this timeline is important for contact tracing efforts and for individuals who may have been exposed, as they should monitor for symptoms for the full period after potential exposure.
- Symptoms usually begin with fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and exhaustion, followed by a characteristic rash that progresses from macules to papules, vesicles, pustules, and finally scabs.
- Other studies have reported similar incubation periods, ranging from 5 to 21 days, with a median of 7 to 9 days 2, 3, 4, 5. However, the most recent and highest quality study should be prioritized when making a definitive recommendation.
Clinical Implications
- The relatively long incubation period reflects the time needed for the virus to replicate sufficiently in the body to cause noticeable symptoms.
- Clinicians should be aware of the potential for a longer incubation period in some cases and should monitor patients for symptoms for the full period after potential exposure.
- Public health management of close contacts should consider that in approximately 5% of cases, the incubation period exceeds the commonly used monitoring period 4.