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Updated again on August 2, 2022 - Please see next post.
Updated August 1, 2022
These recommendations do not apply in healthcare settings, such as hospitals and outpatient clinics. Instead, healthcare providers should follow CDC’s Infection Prevention and Control of Monkeypox in Healthcare Settings. Congregate care settings, such as correctional facilities and homeless shelters, should follow CDC’s Preventing Monkeypox Spread in Congregate Settings.
CDC recommends that people with monkeypox remain isolated at home or at another location for the duration of illness, but that might not be possible in all situations. Prioritizing isolation and source control strategies helps prevent transmission while balancing the impact of this infection on the daily lives of people diagnosed with monkeypox. These considerations may change as we learn more from the 2022 global outbreak of monkeypox.
Current data suggest people can spread monkeypox from the time symptoms start until all symptoms have resolved, including full healing of the rash with formation of a fresh layer of skin. Ideally, people with monkeypox would remain in isolation for the duration of illness, which typically lasts two to four weeks. However, if a person with monkeypox is unable to remain fully isolated throughout the illness, they should do the following:
As of July 15, 2022, transmission during brief interactions (such as a brief conversation), between people in close proximity and for a long duration (such as passengers seated near a person with monkeypox on an airplane), or during healthcare encounters, has not been reported for any person with monkeypox.
The 2022 global outbreak has some different epidemiologic characteristics than illness described with previous monkeypox outbreaks:
Updated August 1, 2022
These recommendations do not apply in healthcare settings, such as hospitals and outpatient clinics. Instead, healthcare providers should follow CDC’s Infection Prevention and Control of Monkeypox in Healthcare Settings. Congregate care settings, such as correctional facilities and homeless shelters, should follow CDC’s Preventing Monkeypox Spread in Congregate Settings.
CDC recommends that people with monkeypox remain isolated at home or at another location for the duration of illness, but that might not be possible in all situations. Prioritizing isolation and source control strategies helps prevent transmission while balancing the impact of this infection on the daily lives of people diagnosed with monkeypox. These considerations may change as we learn more from the 2022 global outbreak of monkeypox.
Current data suggest people can spread monkeypox from the time symptoms start until all symptoms have resolved, including full healing of the rash with formation of a fresh layer of skin. Ideally, people with monkeypox would remain in isolation for the duration of illness, which typically lasts two to four weeks. However, if a person with monkeypox is unable to remain fully isolated throughout the illness, they should do the following:
- While symptomatic with a fever or any respiratory symptoms, including sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough, remain isolated in the home and away from others unless it is necessary to see a healthcare provider or for an emergency.
- While a rash persists but in the absence of a fever or respiratory symptoms
- Cover all parts of the rash with clothing, gloves, and/or bandages.
- Wear a well-fitting mask to prevent the wearer from spreading oral and respiratory secretions when interacting with others until the rash and all other symptoms have resolved.
- Masks should fit closely on the face without any gaps along the edges or around the nose and be comfortable when worn properly over the nose and mouth.
- Until all signs and symptoms of monkeypox illness have fully resolved
- Do not share items that have been worn or handled with other people or animals. Launder or disinfect items that have been worn or handled and surfaces that have been touched by a lesion.
- Avoid close physical contact, including sexual and/or close intimate contact, with other people.
- Avoid sharing utensils or cups. Items should be cleaned and disinfected before use by others.
- Avoid crowds and congregate settings.
- Wash hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after direct contact with the rash.
As of July 15, 2022, transmission during brief interactions (such as a brief conversation), between people in close proximity and for a long duration (such as passengers seated near a person with monkeypox on an airplane), or during healthcare encounters, has not been reported for any person with monkeypox.
The 2022 global outbreak has some different epidemiologic characteristics than illness described with previous monkeypox outbreaks:
- Direct skin-to-skin contact, including sexual and/or close intimate contact, has been identified as a predominant type of exposure for persons with monkeypox in the United States.
- Most people with monkeypox have been adults and have not required hospitalization.
- Deaths have occurred but are rare and have occurred in individuals with underlying conditions.
- To what extent children, people with specific underlying conditions (including those that may cause immunocompromise, eczema or atopic dermatitis), or pregnant people are at risk of severe disease, as they have been with previous outbreaks of monkeypox.
- Whether people with immunosuppression have more Monkeypox viruspresent in body fluids.
- How often Monkeypox virus may be spread from respiratory secretions, or at what point during infection a person with monkeypox symptoms might be more likely to spread Monkeypox virus through respiratory secretions. As stated above, transmission during brief interactions has not been reported.
- If Monkeypox virus may be present in body fluids, including oral and respiratory secretions, urine, feces, and semen.
- Whether Monkeypox virus can be spread through semen or vaginal fluids. Viral DNA has been detected in semen.
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