Monkeypox (MPV)

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Monkeypox (MPV) cases are on the rise. Educating yourself about the disease is the best way to avoid contracting MPV.

MPV is a rare disease caused by the MPV virus. MPV is transmitted through extended skin-to-skin contact with an individual with MPV.

What is monkeypox (MPV)?

Monkeypox is a virus related to smallpox. The virus is characterized by a fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a widespread rash that causes many lesions on the face and extremities. While the current strain of MPV is rarely fatal, it can be extremely painful and some may have lasting scarring resulting from the rash.

How does monkeypox spread?

MPV is spread through direct and prolonged skin-to-skin contact with rashes or bodily secretions from an individual with MPV. It can also spread through prolonged close contact with respiratory secretions from an ill individual.

It can be spread by respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact.
While you can contract monkeypox through sex, MPV is not considered to be a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

How long does it last?

Monkeypox is contagious from the time symptoms start until the rash is completely healed, all scabs are gone, and a new layer of skin has formed. This usually takes about two to four weeks. See our detailed timeline below for more details. Individuals who are not symptomatic cannot spread the disease to others.

Symptoms

Symptoms of monkeypox include

A rash that looks like pimples or blisters,
Headache,
Fever,
Muscle aches,
Malaise,
Swollen lymph nodes,
Chills and
Exhaustion.

A detailed timeline of monkeypox and what happens over the duration of the illness.

Self-Isolation Guidelines

If you are infected, you must remain in isolation until you are no longer contagious (when the rash is completely healed and gone), usually 2-4 weeks from the onset of symptoms.

If you are unable to fully isolate:

Avoid contact with people and animals
Cover all lesions and wear a mask
- You may cover the rash with clothing, gloves, or bandages
Do not share items handled by others and disinfect any items or surfaces you have touched
Avoid all physical contact
Avoid public transportation
Avoid crowds and congregate settings
Wash your hands often

Treatment

There are no treatments specifically for MPV infections. However, many antiviral medications used to treat smallpox may be used to treat monkeypox infections due to the similarities in the diseases.
Treatment is not widely accessible at this time and is mainly reserved and recommended for immunocompromised individuals or those who are more likely to become severely ill.

While suffering from MPV, it is very important to not pop or itch lesions. Disturbing the rash does not help it heal faster and can increase the risk of passing the disease to others.

Preventing the Spread

If you have monkeypox, you are advised to isolate until the resolution of all symptoms. Staying away from other people and animals, as well as not sharing things you have touched with others, will help prevent the spread of monkeypox.

Not every person has the same ability or resources to remain at home for a long period of time. The table below provides options for how to prevent spreading monkeypox to others, organized by the risk of spread. Whenever possible, higher risk options should be avoided, and the lowest risk options should be followed.

Situation	Lowest Risk	Intermediate Risk	Higher Risk
Living Space	Remain alone in a home or where only others with monkeypox are located. Cover upholstered furniture and porous materials that cannot be washed with sheets, blankets, tarps, and other covers.	Remain in a separate room in a home or facility away from others who do not have monkeypox. Cover all upholstered furniture and porous surfaces with sheets, blankets, tarps, or other covers. Wear a well-fitting mask and cover lesions while around others. Disinfect surfaces (doorknobs, countertops) between each use.	Share space with others but avoid close contact. Do not share a bed with another person. Wear a well-fitting mask and cover lesions while around others. Disinfect surfaces (doorknobs, countertops) between each use.
Bathroom	Use a separate bathroom not shared by others.	Use a shared bathroom, but disinfect surfaces (counters, toilet seats, faucets, shower, bathtub) between each use. Do not share towels, washcloths, or objects in the bathroom like toothbrushes or drink from the same glass.	Use a shared bathroom that is cleaned frequently. Clean shared objects between use. Do not share towels or washcloths even if they have been washed in-between use.
Shared Items (Linens, clothing, dishes, cups, utensils, etc.)	Do not share items with others.	Wash any items that will be used by others with detergent (or soap) and water thoroughly after each use.
Leaving Home to Get Supplies or Care	Do not leave your home (except for emergencies). Have all supplies delivered without direct contact with others.	Only leave home for emergencies and essential activities while wearing a well-fitting mask, with all lesions fully covered. Walk, bike, or drive by yourself if you need to leave. Avoid public transit. Disinfect any shared vehicles. Avoid ride-share services.	Perform limited daily activities outside the home with all lesions fully covered and wearing a well-fitting mask. Avoid public transit as much as possible. If public transit is your only option, try to avoid busy transit times and keep as much distance between yourself and others as possible. If you use ride-share services, minimize the number of passengers in the vehicle, keep as much distance as possible from the driver, wear a mask, and open windows if possible.
Working Away from Home	Do not leave your home for work. Telework instead.	Work in a separate space away from others with all lesions fully covered and wearing a well-fitting mask. Limit your time in the workplace as much as you can. Do not use shared spaces like breakrooms, common bathrooms, meeting rooms, etc. Disinfect your work surfaces after you finish your work. Walk, bike, or drive yourself if you need to travel to work. Avoid public transit. Disinfect any shared vehicles. Avoid ride-share services.	Maintain as much distance between yourself, co-workers, and the public as you can. Wear a well-fitting mask and cover rash while around others. Clean/disinfect surfaces that could be used by others in common areas like breakrooms, bathrooms, meeting rooms, etc. Avoid public transit as much as possible. When not feasible, try to avoid busy transit times and keep as much distance between yourself and others as possible. If you use ride-share services, minimize the number of passengers in the vehicle, keep as much distance as possible from the driver, wear a mask, and open windows if possible.
Living with Animals	Avoid any contact with any pets in the home or other animals, especially mammals.	Minimize petting/touching of pets and other animals. If touching animals, completely cover rash to avoid contact between rash and animal. Wear a well-fitting mask

Source: Centers for Disease Control

Testing

Testing for MPV is for those who have skin lesions and symptoms consistent with the disease. Testing is not yet widely available and can be a different process/eligibility for each city.
We are currently researching local testing options and appreciate your patience while we find the best options for our students.

Vaccination

A vaccine for monkeypox does exist, however, supplies are limited. The government has a reserve number of vaccines and is working to secure more.
Locally, the Philadelphia government is prioritizing vaccine doses for those citizens at a higher risk of infection until an adequate supply is received.

View a Health Advisory bulletin from the Philadelphia Department of Health.

Who should get vaccinated?

The CDC recommends vaccinations for people who have been in close contact with people who have monkeypox.
People who may be eligible for vaccination include

Those who have been identified by public health officials as a contact with someone with monkeypox.
Those who may have been exposed to monkeypox, such as
- people who are aware that one of their sexual partners in the past two weeks has been diagnosed with monkeypox, and
- people who had multiple sexual partners in the past two weeks in an area with known monkeypox cases.

If you fit the above criteria and believe you are eligible for a vaccine, talk to your healthcare provider or local health department.

Individuals experiencing monkeypox symptoms cannot receive the vaccine until all symptoms resolve. Those who have been infected should not receive the vaccine at this time as immunity is thought to be long-lasting.

Additional Resources

This section will be updated as more resources are available.

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