John,

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has declared a public health emergency due to a rise in monkeypox cases, which have been reported in all 50 states.¹

The monkeypox virus is not new, but this type of outbreak is. I want to make sure you have the information you need to stay safe.

Most people recover within a month without treatment, and monkeypox is rarely fatal. However, some people have a higher risk of developing severe illness, including immunocompromised people, pregnant or breastfeeding people, children under 8 years old, and people with a history of eczema.²

Because there is a limited supply, vaccines are available for people at high risk of exposure, high risk of developing severe illness, or with confirmed exposure. If this includes you, check with your local health department about vaccine availability in your area. You can find more vaccine information below.

I want to make this clear: Anyone can get monkeypox through close prolonged contact with infectious people.

Due to misinformation and homophobia, members of the LGBTQI+ community are facing increasing stigma and scapegoating. At least one hate crime has been reported so far, with attackers referencing monkeypox and using homophobic slurs.³ One way you can counter this misinformed hate is by sharing the information that anyone can get monkeypox.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can monkeypox spread?

The most common way to get exposed to the monkeypox virus is by skin-to-skin contact. This can include sexual activity, but skin-to-skin contact occurs during non-sexual encounters as well—such as hugging and dancing.

The monkeypox virus can also spread in other ways, including by breathing in respiratory droplets when people are unmasked and close to each other’s faces, and contact with items used by someone with monkeypox (particularly fabrics such as towels, bedding, and clothes).

Ways to reduce risk include:

• Limiting skin-to-skin contact, which can include wearing clothing that covers exposed skin.

• Limiting face-to-face contact, including by masking.

• Washing your hands regularly, especially after touching shared surfaces. Make sure to avoid touching your face or eating food until you wash your hands. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer works, too.

• Avoiding contact with objects or materials used by someone with monkeypox.⁴

What are symptoms like and how long do they last?

The most common symptom is a rash, which can look like blisters, pimples, or other bumps on the skin and can last from 2-4 weeks.⁵ The rash may be itchy or painful, but try not to touch or scratch it.⁶

Other potential symptoms include chills, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, fever, fatigue, and respiratory symptoms—such as congestion, a cough, or a sore throat.

Symptoms can take 1-3 weeks to develop after an exposure. People are considered contagious from the onset of symptoms until their rashes have fully healed, any scabs have fallen off, and a new layer of skin has formed. That can take from 2-4 weeks.

While contagious, the CDC recommends isolating if possible, including avoiding contact with people and pets in your home. If isolation is not possible, the CDC recommends covering the rash and wearing a well-fitted mask. You can read more at https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/if-sick/preventing-spread.html.

If you have a confirmed case, the CDC also recommends notifying close contacts that they may have been exposed. They include samples of what to say here: https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/if-sick/notifying-close-contacts.html.

What about the vaccine?

As noted above, vaccine supplies are limited, so vaccines are available for people at high risk of exposure, high risk of developing severe illness, or with confirmed exposure.

If this includes you, check with your local health department about vaccine availability in your area.

The White House has announced that many more vaccines are coming, and approved a new technique to stretch current supplies.

The primary vaccine distributed in the U.S. is JYNNEOS, which the FDA has approved to prevent smallpox and monkeypox. Smallpox and monkeypox are in the same family of viruses, although monkeypox is considered much milder, less contagious, and much less fatal. The vaccine reduces the chance of symptomatic infection and severe illness.⁷

In order to prevent infection, the CDC recommends getting the vaccine before exposure to monkeypox, or within 4 days from exposure.

Getting the vaccine between 5-14 days from exposure can still reduce symptoms—the sooner the better. People are not considered fully protected until 2 weeks after their second dose.⁸

If you got a smallpox vaccine when you were younger, it may no longer be as effective. The CDC notes that people who’ve been exposed to monkeypox and who haven’t been vaccinated in the past three years should consider getting vaccinated.⁹

For more information, please check out https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox.

I hope you find this information helpful.

Always serving you,

Rashida

¹ https://abcnews.go.com/Health/monkeypox-now-reported-50-states/
² https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/clinicians/smallpox-vaccine.html
³ https://abcnews.go.com/US/men-attacked-suspected-hate-crime-referenced-monkeypox-police/
⁴ https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/prevention/protect-yourself.html
⁵ https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/symptoms.html
⁶https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/if-sick/what-to-do.html
⁷ https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/faq.html#Vaccination
⁸ https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/clinicians/smallpox-vaccine.html
⁹ https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/clinicians/smallpox-vaccine.html