But for some people monkeypox can be serious. Transfer soiled laundry items to be laundered in an impermeable container or bag that can be disinfected afterwards. Most people get well from monkeypox without pills or treatment of any kind. Is monkeypox a sexually transmitted infection (STI)? However, some researchers worry that monkeypox could mutate and become a greater threat to humans. What should someone do if they are exposed to monkeypox? There are two known families or clades of monkeypox virus. This is different from COVID-19, which spreads easily through the air. Decrease, Reset

However, an infection could prove fatal in children under the age of 8, individuals with compromised immune systems and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Standard clothing that fully covers the skin should be worn, and then immediately laundered according to recommendations below. x\mona?J"g'0~-,Ke%3$%r8>bI\rfgggyY~S? Do not shake the linens as this could spread infectious particles. Almost everyone who gets monkeypox gets infected from having a lot of skin-to-skin or face-to-face contact, such as kissing and sex with someone who has monkeypox at a time when that person has symptoms and can spread it. However, you should not sleep inside a hotel room that has not been cleaned after the previous people left. But your chances go up in crowded nightclubs and raves, where some may have more skin showing, because the virus is primarily spreading through skin-to-skin contact. Someone with monkeypox should ask another household member or outside friend/family member to care for pets until the person with monkeypox is fully recovered. The CDC says the rash typically lasts two to four weeks and that some individuals develop it before the onset of other symptoms, while others may experience only the rash. Saving Lives, Protecting People, This document provides considerations on cleaning and disinfecting settings such as homes and cars that may be contaminated with, This information applies to the West African clade of, Hazard Communication for Disinfectants Used Against Viruses | NIOSH | CDC, CDC: Guide F Environmental Control of Smallpox Virus, CDC: Sequence for Donning and Removing Personal Protective Equipment, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology (DHCPP), What Healthcare Professionals Should Know, For Public Health Veterinarians and Animal Health Officials, Examining Animals with Suspected Monkeypox, Reducing Stigma in Communication and Community Engagement, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Handle soiled laundry according to standard practices, avoiding contact with contaminates from the rash that may be present on the laundry. Hollie Adams/Getty Images Focus on disinfecting items and surfaces that were in direct contact with the skin of the person with monkeypox, or often in the presence of the person with monkeypox, during isolation. <> Monkeypox might start with symptoms like the flu, with fever, low energy, swollen lymph nodes, and general body aches. What should I do if I have symptoms of monkeypox? Most infections are mild and will resolve without any treatment. Transmission of Monkeypox virus is possible from the onset of the first symptoms until the scabs have separated and the skin has fully healed. Symptoms, Transmission and Vaccination Questions Answered. Used or contaminated clothing, linens and bedding materials, towels, and other fabric items should be contained until laundering. endobj The first human case of monkeypox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It's always important to talk to a health care provider as soon as you notice unusual rashes or sores or have rectal pain. monkeypox that havent been cleaned, such as clothing, towels and bedding. to Default, About the Viral and Rickettsial Disease Lab, CDER Information for Health Professionals, Communicable Disease Emergency Response Program, DCDC Information for Local Health Departments, Sexually Transmitted Diseases Control Branch, VRDL Guidelines for Specimen Collection and Submission for Pathologic Testing, en Then, reach out to a health care provider who will determine whether you should be tested. Generally, management of waste from homes, including those of people with monkeypox isolating at home, should continue as normal. endobj Whether you're actively experiencing symptoms or believe you've come into contact with a potential carrier, the first step is to isolate yourself to prevent the spread of the virus. Follow these steps for safe and effective disinfectant use: During isolation at home, people with monkeypox should clean and disinfect the spaces they occupy regularly to limit household contamination. The WHO is advising people to isolate themselves for three weeks from the time they believe they may have been exposed and to limit contact with others while awaiting test results. Right now, we only have a few TPOXX pills available. However, given that monkeypox and smallpox viruses are genetically similar, antiviral drugs developed to protect against smallpox, such as tecovirimat (TPOXX), may be used to treat monkeypox. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. This includes close or intimate physical contact, including sexual contact, especially when touching rashes or objects or surfaces (like bedding, towels or sex toys) with someone who has monkeypox. Monkeypox is a known illness that spreads through very close contact compared to other infectious diseases like COVID-19 that are primarily spread though very small particles in the air. can also spread by respiratory secretions (talking, coughing, sneezing, A colorized transmission electron micrograph of monkeypox particles (red) found within an infected cell (blue), cultured in the laboratory that was captured and color-enhanced at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Integrated Research Facility in Fort Detrick, Md. If cleaning and disinfection is done by someone other than the person with monkeypox, that person should wear, at a minimum, disposable medical gloves and a respirator or well-fitting mask. During the infectious period of time, body fluids, respiratory secretions, and lesion material from people with monkeypox can contaminate the environment. The swab is rubbed against spots on your skin, or parts of your rash, and then sent to a specialized lab for monkeypox testing. For more information on cleaning and disinfection, see: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kyle Planck, 26, who has recovered from monkeypox, shows scars from rashes on his skin in New York last week. Include interior surfaces of refrigerator, freezer, other appliances, interior cabinet spaces, or drawers if they have been accessed by the person with monkeypox. Hand hygiene should be performed using an ABHR, or soap and water if ABHR is unavailable. The list of approved products can be found on the, Once you have gotten well from monkeypox and new skin has grown over all your monkeypox sores or spots, you should wipe down and clean your home as thoroughly as you can. Most people who get the JYNNEOS vaccine have only minor reactions, like pain, redness, swelling and itching at the injection site, and less commonly, muscle pain, headache, fatigue (tiredness), nausea, chills and mild fever, and swollen glands. Once you have gotten well from monkeypox and new skin has grown over all your monkeypox sores or spots, you should wipe down and clean your home as thoroughly as you can. There are number of ways to prevent the spread of monkeypox, including: Contact a health care provider as soon as possible and let them know you have been exposed to monkeypox. If you are told by your partner that they have monkeypox, or someone contacts you to tell you that you were exposed, you should seek out a monkeypox vaccineto prevent an infection. The virus can also lead to eye infections and corneal scarring, which in serious cases can result in permanent vision loss. They can look like pimples or blisters and may be painful and itchy. All viruses change and evolve over time. PEP with the JYNNEOS vaccine should be given within 4 days from the date of exposure to help prevent onset of the disease. UC Davis Health: What is Monkeypox? 1-833-4CA4ALL Studies show that other closely related Orthopoxviruses can survive in an environment, similar to a household, for weeks or months. public health emergency of international concern, were tied to international travel and imported animals, Monkeypox can look different than what doctors thought. Another way to keep yourself and your loved ones safe is to stay up-to-date on the spread of the virus in your area. Follow the steps below to minimize risk of infection to others in your home after recovery. breathing) during prolonged, close, face-to-face contact. Within 1 to 3 days (sometimes longer) after the appearance of fever, the person can develop a rash or sores. These groups include people with weakened immune systems, children under 8 years of age, people with a history of eczema, and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. If professional cleaning services are used, treat and/or dispose of waste in accordance with applicable state, local, tribal, and territorial. As the virus can spread through skin-to-skin contact, the CDC advises people to exercise caution in situations where one can't maintain some sense of personal space and bumping into others is impractical. to Default, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Bloodstream Infection, Certificates, Licenses, Permits and Registrations, Registered Environmental Health Specialist, Mosquito Disease Surveillance and Control, California Health Facilities Information Database, Chronic Disease Surveillance and Research, Division of Radiation Safety and Environmental Management, Center for Health Statistics and Informatics, Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program, Office of State Public Health Laboratory Director. ISOLATING ALONE IN HOME: People with monkeypox who are isolating alone at home should regularly clean and disinfect the spaces they occupy, including commonly touched surfaces and items, to limit household contamination. You should call your doctor or clinic if you are worried you are getting severe monkeypox. Alternatively, a fabric bag may be used that can also be laundered along with the soiled items. CDPH is working with local health officials and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ensure appropriate care and response, including outreach and communications, laboratory testing, contact tracing, obtaining vaccine to support local vaccination efforts for people who may have been exposed and making antiviral treatment more widely available in California. Soiled laundry should never be shaken or handled in a manner that may spread infectious particles. In healthcare facilities, current infection control recommendations (including use of personal protective equipment or PPE) should be followed.

In the current outbreak, the CDC says there is no available data on the effectiveness of either vaccine. No, monkeypox is a completely different disease, is not related to COVID-19, and spreads differently. Despite the ability of Orthopoxviruses to persist in the environment, they are also sensitive to many disinfectants, and disinfection is recommended for all areas (such as home and vehicle) where a person with monkeypox has spent time, as well as, for items considered to be potentially contaminated. It The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a list of approved cleaning solutions, or disinfectants for monkeypox. Sacramento, CA 95899-7377, For General Public Information: It is allowed as an investigation drug for special circumstances for people who have severe monkeypox. The reason it's called monkeypox is because it was first discovered in colonies of monkeys used for research in 1958. Because we have such limited vaccines, we are temporarily asking everyone toprioritize those who have a direct exposure. Within the U.S., the only outbreak was in 2003, when 47 confirmed and probable cases were discovered in six states. Infections with the strain of monkeypox virus identified in this outbreakthe West African strainare rarely fatal. However, there is currently an extremely limited supply from the Strategic National Stockpile. A man receives a vaccination dose against monkeypox in London, England. But they are still contagious and may propagate the disease.". stream If you are traveling on a plane, avoid prolonged skin-to-skin contact, while sharing an armrest, for example. For more information on the vaccine, visit theCDC JYNNEOS Vaccine Statementand theCDC's Consideration on Monkeypox Vaccine site. According to the CDC, more than 99% of patients can expect to survive. Items and surfaces within the home that have likely not been in contact with the person while sick with monkeypox do not need to be disinfected. If the person with monkeypox had direct skin contact and/or excessive drainage of fluids from rashes onto soft furnishings, such as upholstered furniture, carpets, rugs, and mattresses, steam cleaning can be considered. Anyone can get monkeypox after having close physical contact with someone who has the infection, especially contact with infected lesions (sores), bodily fluids, or other contaminated surfaces. There is a recent increase in reported cases where monkeypox is not commonly seen, like Europe and the United States, including California. Getting a vaccine soon after exposure ideally within 4 days but up to 14 days after can help prevent you from becoming infected with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox may also cause rectal pain, which is a symptom of proctitis (inflammation of the rectum) and can be seen in other STIs as well. "Because you can see how these patients can be missed. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)- Monkeypox, CDC - Considerations for Monkeypox Vaccination, CDC - Social Gatherings, Safer Sex and Monkeypox(PDF), What Gay & Bisexual Men Need to Know About Monkeypox(PDF), World Health Organization (WHO)- Monkeypox, PO Box 997377