#16.778
While it is still far from clear how big of an impact the recent multi-national spread of Monkeypox will have on global health, public health agencies around the globe are scrambling to implement surveillance, treatment, contact tracing, and isolation protocols.
Last week the CDC issued a HAN Advisory, the UKHSA released guidance (see here, here, and here), and tomorrow the CDC will hold a COCA call.
Overnight the World Health Organization released their own preliminary guidance in a 7-page PDF, excerpts from which you'll find below.
Surveillance, case investigation and contact tracing for Monkeypox
Interim guidance
22 May 2022
| Technical document
Overview
There is currently a multi-country outbreak of monkeypox in several regions of the world, the full extent and impact of which remains unclear. The overall goal of surveillance, case investigation and contact tracing in this context is to break chains of human to human transmission and stop the outbreak.
The key objectives of surveillance and case investigation for monkeypox 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 and manage contacts; to protect frontline health workers; and to tailor effective control and prevention measures.Clinicians should report suspected cases immediately to public health authorities; probable and confirmed cases of monkeypox should be reported immediately to WHO through IHR national focal points (NFPs) under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).In the current context, as soon as a suspected case is identified, contact identification and contact tracing should be initiated. Contacts should be monitored at least daily for the onset of any signs/symptoms for a period of 21 days from last contact with a patient or their contaminated materials during the infectious period. Quarantine or exclusion from work are not necessary during the contact tracing period as long as no symptoms develop.
Key points
- There is currently a multi-country outbreak of monkeypox in several regions of the world, the full extent and impact of which remains unclear. The overall goal of surveillance, case investigation and contact tracing in this context is to break chains of human to human transmission and stop the outbreak.
- The key objectives of surveillance and case investigation for monkeypox 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 and manage contacts; to protect frontline health workers; and to tailor effective control and prevention measures.
- The situation is rapidly evolving and WHO expects there will be more cases of monkeypox identified as
- surveillance expands in non-endemic countries. Immediate actions focus on: informing those who may be most at risk for monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection with accurate information; stopping further spread; and protecting front line workers.
- Clinicians should report suspected cases immediately to public health authorities.
- Probable and confirmed cases of monkeypox should be reported immediately to WHO through IHR national focal points (NFPs) under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).
- If monkeypox is suspected, case investigation should consist of clinical examination of the patient with appropriate PPE, questioning the patient about possible sources of infection, and safe collection and dispatch of specimens for MPXV laboratory examination.
- In the current context, as soon as a suspected case is identified, contact identification and contact tracing should be initiated.
- Contacts should be monitored at least daily for the onset of any signs/symptoms for a period of 21 days from last contact with a patient or their contaminated materials during the infectious period.
- Quarantine or exclusion from work are not necessary during the contact tracing period as long as no symptoms develop.
