What you need to know about monkeypox

By Kathy Ritchie
Published: Tuesday, August 9, 2022 - 3:46pm
Updated: Tuesday, August 9, 2022 - 3:48pm

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monkeypox rash
CDC/NHS England High Consequence Infectious Diseases Network
Visual examples of monkeypox rash

Maricopa County has reported more than 100 cases of monkeypox so far. Last week, the federal government declared the virus a public health emergency, bolstering the national response.

The good news is monkeypox is not COVID-19, and Maricopa County epidemiologist Dr. Nick Staab is optimistic.

"We still believe there's the potential to contain and slow transmission of monkeypox," he said.

The way you do that is through vaccination. And that’s happening among those at highest risk, but, he says they're "that we get increased supply. As we have more supply, just like with COVID-19 vaccines, we will broaden that eligibility."

Staab says the Jynneous vaccine is available for people 18 and older. 

"For individuals under 18, we can use Jynneos, but we have to file an individual request through the FDA to use Jynneos in a minor. So we can do that and are prepared to do that if we need to," Staab said. 

While this virus primarily spreads through close, intimate contact, a person can become infected through respiratory droplets or infected linens, towels or clothes, but, he says, they are not seeing a lot of cases being transmitted from those other potential sources.

So what about people who’ve had the smallpox vaccine? Staab says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and experts are looking into whether people who were vaccinated more than four-plus decades ago have any lingering immunity. 

What else do you need to know about monkeypox? Staab explains:

What does it look like? 

"It really starts out as a red flat rash, that becomes a red raised rash, and then you start to get these vesicles, or fluid filled lesions, that becomes the umbilical cord lesion with the central dimple, and then you get a scab. And that's what's so difficult about monkey pox, is throughout that entire progression, that rash is infectious. And to go through that whole progression from the appearance of the rash, until you get new skin formed over that scab lesion, can be anywhere between three and four weeks. So it's a long period of time that an individual would really need to be extra careful about, about keeping that rash covered, and making sure that other people aren't exposed."

When we say the vaccine is available to high-risk individuals, who are they?

"Those individuals could have known contact with the case of monkey pox, or they could be household members are close social contacts of the case. And so because of our limited supply, we're really focusing on reaching out to those who are at highest risk. As our supply increases, which again, with the declaration of the public health emergency, we're hopeful that we get increased supply, as we have more supply just like with COVID-19 vaccines, we will broaden that eligibility."

Is monkeypox an sexually transmitted infection, or STI?

"Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection, we are calling it a sexually associated infection. But again that is only because of that close contact that is necessary for transmission, which we are seeing transmitted in a pattern similar to STIs. But it is not an STI. Anyone is at risk to get monkey pox if they're exposed.

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