Can You Catch Monkeypox From Swimming Pools?

Health officials have begun monitoring virus clusters at major gatherings like pool parties and music festivals as the monkeypox epidemic continues.

Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (a virus transferred to people from animals) with symptoms similar to smallpox. News of the virus has people wondering if they can catch monkeypox from swimming in a pool or other recreational bodies of water.

To date, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has documented 6,617 cases in the US of the 26,519 cases reported worldwide. Recently, the government declared a public health emergency in response to the spread of the monkeypox virus.

It’s important to note that to date there have been no recorded deaths of monkeypox in the United States. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus has a fatality rate of 3% to 6% and is most dangerous for those with compromised immune systems.

Monkeypox is still relatively uncommon in North America but its rapid growth in Africa and other regions is cause for alarm. The primary mode of transmission for monkeypox is physical contact with an infected person, in contrast to respiratory droplets for COVID-19. According to the CDC, close, personal contact is necessary for the spread of the disease. For such an infection to spread, “prolonged face-to-face contact,” like kissing, is necessary.

The Mayo Clinic says that monkeypox infections frequently begin with a combination of fever, headache, chills, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, back pain, and muscle aches.

Can You Catch Monkeypox From a Swimming Pool?

While skin-to-skin contact is the most common way to contract the virus, the answer as to whether you can contract monkeypox from a swimming pool is still inconclusive. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that research into the spread of other pox viruses, like the more common molluscum contagiosum, has shown that spread is increased in swimming pools; however, scientists have not yet discovered evidence for how or under what circumstances this might occur.

“Activities related to swimming might be the cause. For example, the virus might spread from one person to another if they share a towel or toys. More research is needed to understand if and for how long the molluscum virus can live in swimming pool water and if such water can infect swimmers.” – Centers for Disease Control