The Prince William Health District (PWHD), as part of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), is working with other local public health agencies to respond to the current outbreak of Monkeypox cases in our community, northern Virginia, D.C., and Maryland.

We have a limited number of vaccines, and the federal government has been working to expand supply.

Monkeypox is a rare illness that causes a rash with blisters or sores. It is not a new virus like COVID-19. Monkeypox belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox and cowpox. Monkeypox is a milder illness and is not as contagious as smallpox.

Monkeypox is currently a low threat to the general public because person-to-person spread requires close contact with an infected person for long periods of time.

The most common Monkeypox symptom is a rash with sores or blisters.

The rash looks like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus.

The rash goes through different stages before healing completely.

Infected individuals may be contagious from the time that symptoms start (fever/flu-like symptoms or rash) until all skin lesions have formed scabs and fallen off and no other symptoms are present. Symptoms usually last 2-4 weeks.

Anyone can get and spread Monkeypox.

Monkeypox germs spread from person-to-person from skin-to-skin contact, touching sores or blisters, sharing bedding or clothing, or kissing and intimate contact.

Infected individuals may be contagious from the time that symptoms start (fever/flu-like symptoms or rash) until all skin lesions have formed scabs and fallen off and no other symptoms are present. Symptoms usually last 2-4 weeks.

Monkeypox can live on surfaces, but it is easily killed with soap and water. It also requires a significant “dose” of virus on the bed sheets or clothing of an infected person to infect another person.

People who do not have Monkeypox symptoms cannot spread the virus to others.

Monkeypox is currently a low threat to the general public because person-to-person spread requires close contact with an infected person for long periods of time.

Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after contact with sick people.

If you have Monkeypox symptoms, get tested by a health care provider.

A healthcare worker will take 2–4 swabs of lesions (pimples or blisters) on different areas of the body and send the samples to a laboratory.

Most people with Monkeypox get better on their own without treatment. Pain medication like Tylenol or Advil may be needed to treat pain.

There are no treatments approved specifically for Monkeypox. The antiviral treatment, tecovirimat (TPOXX) is approved to protect against smallpox and may be used to treat people with severe disease or who may be at high risk of severe disease (e.g., people with weakened immune systems and people with certain skin conditions).

Vaccination with the Jynneos vaccine is recommended for contacts of Monkeypox cases and people at high risk of exposure to Monkeypox.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Jynneos vaccine for the prevention of Monkeypox in high-risk adults 18 years of age and older, and high-risk children ages 17 and younger.

The vaccine is not an effective treatment for those who already have Monkeypox. If you have any symptoms that may indicate you have Monkeypox, please contact a healthcare provider.

The vaccine should be given within 4 days from the date of exposure for the best chance to prevent disease. If given between 4 and 14 days after the date of exposure, vaccination may reduce the symptoms of disease, but may not prevent the disease.

The Monkeypox vaccine requires two doses, four weeks apart. A person is not fully protected from Monkeypox until two weeks after the second dose of the vaccine.

A Virginia resident and 18 years of age or older

A Virginia resident and 17 years of age or younger