Key points
• A multi-country outbreak of mpox (monkeypox) is ongoing since May 2022. The number of cases reported weekly at the global level peaked in August 2022, and since then has been steadily declining. The two most affected areas from this outbreak are the WHO Region of the Americas and the European Region.
• The overall goal of surveillance, case investigation and contact tracing in this context is to detect new outbreaks and stop human-to-human transmission in order to stop the global outbreak and minimize zoonotic transmission.
• The key objectives of surveillance and case investigation for mpox in the current context are to rapidly identify cases and clusters in order to provide optimal clinical care; to isolate cases to prevent further transmission; to identify, manage and follow up contacts to recognize early signs of infection; to identify risk groups for infection and for severe disease; to protect frontline health workers; and to tailor effective control and prevention measures.
• Key actions of the response to the outbreak include: informing those who may be most at risk for monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection with accurate information; offering pre- and post-exposure vaccination to at risk population groups; stopping further spread; and protecting vulnerable individuals and frontline workers.
• Clinicians should report suspected cases immediately to local and national public health authorities.
• Probable and confirmed cases of mpox should be reported to WHO as early as possible, including a minimum dataset of epidemiologically relevant information, to WHO through IHR national focal points (NFPs) under Article 6 of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).
• If mpox is suspected, case investigation should consist of clinical examination of the patient in a wellventilated room while using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), questioning the patient about possible sources of exposure, and safe collection and dispatch of specimens for laboratory MPXV examination.
• As soon as a suspected case is identified, contact identification and contact tracing should be initiated.
• Contacts of probable and confirmed cases should be monitored, or should self-monitor, daily for any sign or symptom for a period of 21 days from last contact with a case or their contaminated materials during the infectious period.
• Quarantine or exclusion from work are not necessary during the contact monitoring period as long as no symptoms develop. During the 21 days of monitoring, WHO encourages contacts without any symptoms to rigorously practice hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, avoid contact with immunocompromised people, children or pregnant women. While WHO continues to review evidence regarding possible transmission prior to onset of symptoms, it is advised that known contacts avoid sexual contact with others during the 21-day monitoring period, regardless of their symptoms. Non-essential travel is discouraged during this period.
Key points
• A multi-country outbreak of mpox (monkeypox) is ongoing since May 2022. The number of cases reported weekly at the global level peaked in August 2022, and since then has been steadily declining. The two most affected areas from this outbreak are the WHO Region of the Americas and the European Region.
• The overall goal of surveillance, case investigation and contact tracing in this context is to detect new outbreaks and stop human-to-human transmission in order to stop the global outbreak and minimize zoonotic transmission.
• The key objectives of surveillance and case investigation for mpox in the current context are to rapidly identify cases and clusters in order to provide optimal clinical care; to isolate cases to prevent further transmission; to identify, manage and follow up contacts to recognize early signs of infection; to identify risk groups for infection and for severe disease; to protect frontline health workers; and to tailor effective control and prevention measures.
• Key actions of the response to the outbreak include: informing those who may be most at risk for monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection with accurate information; offering pre- and post-exposure vaccination to at risk population groups; stopping further spread; and protecting vulnerable individuals and frontline workers.
• Clinicians should report suspected cases immediately to local and national public health authorities.
• Probable and confirmed cases of mpox should be reported to WHO as early as possible, including a minimum dataset of epidemiologically relevant information, to WHO through IHR national focal points (NFPs) under Article 6 of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).
• If mpox is suspected, case investigation should consist of clinical examination of the patient in a wellventilated room while using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), questioning the patient about possible sources of exposure, and safe collection and dispatch of specimens for laboratory MPXV examination.
• As soon as a suspected case is identified, contact identification and contact tracing should be initiated.
• Contacts of probable and confirmed cases should be monitored, or should self-monitor, daily for any sign or symptom for a period of 21 days from last contact with a case or their contaminated materials during the infectious period.
• Quarantine or exclusion from work are not necessary during the contact monitoring period as long as no symptoms develop. During the 21 days of monitoring, WHO encourages contacts without any symptoms to rigorously practice hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, avoid contact with immunocompromised people, children or pregnant women. While WHO continues to review evidence regarding possible transmission prior to onset of symptoms, it is advised that known contacts avoid sexual contact with others during the 21-day monitoring period, regardless of their symptoms. Non-essential travel is discouraged during this period.
