#making this post because i don't want to see any scare mongering bullshit on my dash again this year

[nightpool]

hey all, the CDC identified a cluster of mpox cases in Chicago and UK authorities identified one in London. If you have >5 casual sex partners per year or have close (regularly sharing clothes or bedding) contact with someone who does, please take precautions. Vaccines are still available, launder bedding more frequently, check for rashes regularly on those you're close to, etc.

mpox has a very very low case fatality rate in western countries (0.16%). the vast majority of deaths are among already severely immunocompromised people (primarily uncontrolled HIV)—if you fall into that category, please be aware of the risks.

Most county health departments have some vaccine doses available. The CDC estimates that 1.2 million people are in the eligible population for mpox (casually sexually active or sex partners of those who are). You can review the criteria and search for a vaccine here. You can also review the CDC's mpox safety guide here which all seems pretty straightforward and common sense to me (the most urgent of which is "please for the love of god don't touch other people's rashes" and the funniest of which is "consider having sex with clothes on or masturbating at a distance")