Monkeypox
Health Emergency

• Caused by monkeypox virus (MPV).
• NOT related to smallpox but is in the same family as chickenpox (Varicella).
• Animal hosts are NOT limited to monkeys.
• 98% of new cases are in new areas where MPV is not usually found.
• Historically very rare and isolated, cases now exponentially increasing, topping 10,000 cases in the USA as of August, 2022

SPECIMEN NEEDED: Use Viral Transport Media (VTM) only!

• Scab or Crusts from Skin Lesion

OR

• Swabs of Skin Lesions
  • DO NOT use cotton swabs
  • Swab 2-3 lesions separately
  • Two swabs from each skin lesion should be collected
  • Swab each skin lesion vigorously to collect adequate DNA
  • Not necessary to remove or “de-roof” the scab before swabbing.

1. Patients with skin lesions & an unclear diagnosis and are likely to have been exposed to monkeypox:
   • Confirmed contact with someone who has monkeypox
   • People with multiple sexual partners in an area of known monkeypox outbreak
2. People who work in jobs with increased exposure
   • Lab workers
   • Healthcare or public health workers

Monkeypox lesions:

• Appear in ANY part of the body
• Can be mistaken for other skin lesions and sexually transmitted diseases STIs.

If diagnosis or testing is unclear consider testing for the following:

• Herpes type 1 & 2
• Syphilis
• Chanchroid or Haemohylis ducreyi.

CDC recommends vaccination for:

1. Those who have been exposed
2. Those who are likely to be exposed
   • Confirmed contact with someone who has Monkeypox
   • People with multiple sexual partners in an area of known Monkeypox outbreak
   • People who work in jobs with increased exposure
     • Lab workers
     • Healthcare or public health workers

There are currently NO vaccines available for monkeypox.

However, two current vaccines for smallpox can be effective.

• Without treatment monkeypox is usually mild, self-limiting and rarely fatal. Therefore, treatment may be limited to symptomatic care.
• There are currently no treatments specific to monkeypox.
• Tecovirimat (TPOXX, ST-246) used to treat smallpox has been given emergency investigational status.

Please see attached links below for updates. 

Monkeypox Printable/Downloadable Resources

Monkeypox Clinical Course FYI

Monkeypox Did You Know? Flyer

Monkeypox Fact Sheet

MONKEYPOX in BriefFAQ

PROSPECT Monkeypox Bulletin