Dear USET/USET SPF Family,
As the USET TEC continues to closely monitor the global monkeypox outbreak, we would like to provide an update from our previous alert on June 30.
In a press conference on July 23, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that monkeypox is now classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Since the first Emergency Committee meeting at the end of June 2022, monkeypox cases have risen from 3,040 cases in 47 countries to over 16,000 cases in 75 countries.1,2 The committee was split in this decision and additional information is linked outlining both perspectives as well as the criteria for declaring an outbreak as a PHEIC.1,3
As of July 22, 2022, there were 2,891 cases in the United States, and there are cases in almost all states and territories. There are currently 900 cases in New York, followed by 356 cases in California, 247 cases in Florida, and 238 cases in Illinois.4 Currently, this outbreak is concentrated among men who have sex with men, especially those with multiple sexual partners; however, it is spreading rapidly.1,3 This outbreak can be contained through cooperation and a strong public health response.
Recommendations
The WHO released recommendations for countries based on multiple epidemiological criteria. The United States is currently in Group 2 “States Parties, with recently imported cases of monkeypox in the human population and/or otherwise experiencing human-to-human transmission of monkeypox virus, including in key population groups and communities at high risk of exposure.” A full list of the temporary recommendations is linked here, but the ultimate goal is to stop human-to-human transmission and protect vulnerable groups.3
Top Action Items for your Clinic or Hospital
- Risk communication and community engagement, case detection, supported isolation of cases and treatment, contact tracing, and immunization especially among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.
- Establish and use recommended clinical protocols for screening, triage, isolation, testing, and clinical assessment of suspected cases, providing training and resources as needed and reporting to the appropriate health department.
- Use existing and new vaccines, therapeutics, and antivirals available to you for treatment or pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis of cases or those identified through contact tracing.
Please refer to the list of resources below for more in-depth information and additional guidance. If you have any questions, please reach out to usetepi@usetinc.org.
References
1 WHO Director-General's statement - 23 July 2022
2 WHO First Meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee regarding monkeypox
3 WHO Second Meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee regarding monkeypox
4 CDC Monkeypox Cases USA Map
Resources
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