Long mpox? Research suggests mpox may cause health problems long after the rash heals
January 20, 2026
Mpox has been widely framed as an acute illness, but new evidence challenges that narrative. Research published in Annals of Internal Medicine shows that for many patients, recovery does not end when lesions heal. Persistent scarring, functional complications, and social consequences including stigma and job loss continue long after infection. As clade IIb mpox circulates at low levels and clade I resurges elsewhere, public health responses must expand beyond containment. Long-term follow-up, rehabilitation, and psychosocial support should be treated as integral components of mpox care, not afterthoughts.
The global response to mpox has largely focused on outbreak control, vaccination, and short-term clinical management. New findings suggest that this approach is incomplete. A study led by Preetam Cholli in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention demonstrates that mpox can leave lasting physical, functional, and social effects well beyond the acute phase of illness.
Among adults infected during the 2022 to 2023 outbreak, more than half experienced persistent physical effects up to 18 months later, most commonly scarring at prior lesion sites. These scars often involved intimate or visible areas such as the genitals, face, or groin, amplifying their psychosocial impact. For a smaller but significant subset, mpox was associated with ongoing bowel, bladder, sexual, neurologic, or visual problems that interfered with daily functioning.
The social consequences were equally striking. Nearly half of those previously infected reported continued disruption to their social lives, one in five reported sexual difficulties, and a notable proportion experienced employment loss or discrimination tied to their mpox history. Stigma remained common, reinforcing how infectious disease harms extend beyond biology into economic and social domains.
Importantly, most participants still rated their overall health positively, underscoring that chronic sequelae can coexist with perceived wellness. This nuance matters. Mpox may not incapacitate most survivors, but it can meaningfully alter quality of life for a substantial minority.
These findings arrive as mpox continues to circulate globally. The World Health Organization has emphasized the need for vigilance as different clades persist and evolve. The evidence now suggests that vigilance must include long-term care. Mpox should be understood not only as an outbreak to suppress, but as a condition that may require extended follow-up, rehabilitation, and stigma-aware support to ensure full recovery.