2022 United States Monkeypox Response and Recommendations
CDC is closely tracking cases of monkeypox that have been recently reported in several countries that don’t normally have monkeypox activity, including the United States.
On this Page
Overview
Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are tracking multiple cases of monkeypox that have been reported in several countries that don’t normally report monkeypox, including the United States.
For more information on exposure risk, see
Monitoring Persons Exposed.
It’s not clear how the individuals were exposed to monkeypox but cases include people who self-identify as men who have sex with men.
CDC is urging healthcare providers in the U.S. to be alert for patients who have rash illnesses
consistent with monkeypox, regardless of whether they have travel or specific risk factors for monkeypox and regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
CDC is working with state and local health officials to identify people who may have been in contact with individuals who have tested positive for monkeypox, so they can monitor their health.
What You Should Do:
People who may have
symptoms of monkeypox should contact their healthcare provider. This includes anyone who:
- traveled to central or west African countries, parts of Europe where monkeypox cases have been reported, or other areas with confirmed cases of monkeypox during the month before their symptoms began,
- reports contact with a person with confirmed or suspected monkeypox, or
- is a man who regularly has close or intimate contact with other men, including men who meet partners through an online website, digital application (“app”), or at a bar or party.
Case Count
Monkeypox/Orthopoxvirus Cases in the U.S.
*Data as of May 25, 5 pm
Total monkeypox/orthopoxvirus cases:
9
Recommendations for Clinicians
- If clinicians identify patients with a rash that could be consistent with monkeypox, especially those with a recent travel history to central or west African countries, parts of Europe where monkeypox has been reported, or other areas reporting monkeypox cases, monkeypox should be considered as a possible diagnosis.
- The rash associated with monkeypox involves vesicles or pustules that are deep-seated, firm or hard, and well-circumscribed; the lesions may umbilicate or become confluent and progress over time to scabs.
- Presenting symptoms typically include fever, chills, the distinctive rash, or new lymphadenopathy; however, onset of perianal or genital lesions in the absence of subjective fever has been reported.
- The rash associated with monkeypox can be confused with other diseases that are encountered in clinical practice (e.g., secondary syphilis, herpes, chancroid, and varicella zoster). However, a high index of suspicion for monkeypox is warranted when evaluating people with a characteristic rash, particularly for men who report sexual contact with other men and who present with lesions in the genital/perianal area or for individuals reporting a significant travel history in the month before illness onset or contact with a suspected or confirmed case of monkeypox.
- Information on infection prevention and control in healthcare settings is provided on the CDC website Infection Control: Healthcare Settings.
- Clinicians should first consult their state health department (State Contactsexternal icon) or CDC through the CDC Emergency Operations Center (770-488-7100) as soon as monkeypox is suspected.
All specimens should be sent through the state/territorial public health department, unless authorized to send them directly to CDC.
Recommendations for Health Departments
- If monkeypox is suspected, CDC should be consulted through the CDC Emergency Operations Center (770-488-7100).
- Appropriately collected samples can be sent to CDC or an appropriate Laboratory Response Network (LRN) laboratory for testing by PCR.
- Laboratory Response Network laboratories are able to provide orthopoxvirus testing on lesion specimens that clinicians obtain from suspected patients; confirmatory monkeypox virus-specific testing at CDC requires a dry lesion swab specimen.
- Vigorously swab or brush lesion with two separate sterile dry polyester or Dacron swabs;Collect multiple specimens for preliminary and confirmatory testing as follows:
- Break off end of applicator of each swab into a 1.5- or 2-mL screw-capped tube with O-ring or place each entire swab in a separate sterile container. Do not add or store in viral or universal transport media.
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https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/response/2022/index.html
