Monkeypox and Orthopox Tracking

Currently, there are 29,913 confirmed and probable cases of Monkeypox and Orthopox in the U.S. There have been 20 deaths due to Monkeypox and Orthopox in the U.S.

Data as of January 4th, 2023 at 5pm Eastern. Courtesy of the CDC (see below).

What steps should Fire and EMS departments take to avoid contracting the disease?

The National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center makes the following recommendations:

Follow the “identify, isolate, and inform” strategy to reduce exposure.
Be alert for patients who have illness and a rash consistent with monkeypox, regardless of the risk of exposure or travel histories.
Be aware that monkeypox infection begins with flu-like symptoms and may result in lesions and rashes that are hard to distinguish from syphilis, herpes simplex virus, chancroid, varicella zoster, and more common infections.
Be aware that people with close personal contact with monkeypox patients also could be at risk of infection.
Take a combination of standard, contact, and droplet precautions in all settings when a patient presents with fever and vesicular/pustular rash.
Personal protective equipment should be donned before entering the room or making contact with a potential patient with monkeypox. Minimize the number of personnel who are exposed.
If monkeypox is suspected, please consult with your local health department, and notify the hospital while enroute.