Human Monkeypox

Overview

The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) is working with partners to monitor the global human monkeypox outbreak and provide information to residents. Check this page for updates and follow us at http://www.twitter.com/MDHealthDept and https://www.facebook.com/MDHealthDept.

Click here to move ahead to our human monkeypox resources section.

Maryland Human Monkeypox Summary

Total Positive Cases

461

County	N	%
Allegany County	*	*
Anne Arundel County	29	6.3%
Baltimore County	36	7.8%
Baltimore City	133	28.9%
Calvert County	*	*
Caroline County
Carroll County	*	*
Cecil County	*	*
Charles County	*	*
Dorchester County	*	*
Fredrick County	*	*
Garrett County	*	*
Harford County	*	*
Howard County	*	*
Kent County	*	*
Montgomery County	57	12.4%
Prince George's County	175	38.0%
Queen Anne's County	*	*
Saint Mary's County	*	*
Somerset County	*	*
Talbot County	*	*
Washington County	*	*
Wicomico County	*	*
Worcester County	*	*
Total	461	100.0%

Note:*- MDH is not reporting counts in counties with fewer than 10 cases due to patient confidentiality.

Sex	N	%
Female	20	4.3%
Male	439	95.2%
Not Reported	2	0.4%
Total	461	100.0%

Age Group	N	%
< 20 years old	10	2.2%
20-29 years old	117	25.4%
30-39 years old	219	47.5%
40-49 years old	80	17.4%
50-59 years old	28	6.1%
60+ years old	7	1.5%
Not Reported	0	0.0%
Total	461	100.0%

Race	N	%
American Indian/Alaska Native	6	1.3%
Asian	6	1.3%
Black	264	57.3%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pac. Islander	1	0.2%
White	66	14.3%
Other	20	4.3%
Not Reported	98	21.3%
Total	461	100.0%

Ethnicity	N	%
Hispanic	50	10.8%
Non-Hispanic	295	64.0%
Not Reported	116	25.2%
Total	168	100.0%

Vaccinations
Total Individuals Vaccinated	2124

This data was updated on 8/26/22.

The Maryland Department of Health provides human monkeypox data reporting every Friday.

Note: All data are preliminary and subject to change based on additional reporting. Case and vaccine data reflect Maryland residents only. MDH is continuously evaluating its data and reporting systems and will make updates as more data becomes available.

Background

Human monkeypox is a rare but serious illness caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, which can infect humans and other animals, such as monkeys and rodents. The human monkeypox virus belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus. The Orthopoxvirus genus also includes variola virus (which causes smallpox), vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox vaccine), and cowpox virus.

Historically, most human cases of monkeypox have been identified in Central and West Africa. Rarely, human monkeypox cases have been identified outside of Central or West Africa, though many cases reported links to those regions, either through travel or exposure to humans or animals that had been infected in those areas.

In May 2022, several clusters of human monkeypox cases were reported in countries that don't normally report human monkeypox, including the United States. It's not clear how the people were exposed to monkeypox, but early data suggest that gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men make up a high number of cases. However, anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox is at risk, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

On June 16, 2022, MDH reported a presumed human monkeypox virus infection in a Maryland resident. Please refer to the CDC website for current Maryland and national case counts.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of monkeypox can include:

Fever
Headache
Muscle aches and backache
A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus.
Swollen lymph nodes
Chills
Exhaustion

The rash goes through different stages before healing completely. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. Sometimes, people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience a rash.

Transmission

Monkeypox spreads in different ways. The virus can spread from person-to-person through:

direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids
respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex
touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids
pregnant people can spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta

It’s also possible for people to get monkeypox from infected animals, either by being scratched or bitten by the animal or by preparing or eating meat or using products from an infected animal.

Monkeypox can spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. People who do not have monkeypox symptoms cannot spread the virus to others. At this time, it is not known if monkeypox can spread through semen or vaginal fluids.

Prevention

Take the following steps to prevent getting monkeypox:

Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox.
Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox.
Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with monkeypox.
Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox.
Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox.
Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
In Central and West Africa, avoid contact with animals that can spread monkeypox virus, usually rodents and primates. Also, avoid sick or dead animals, as well as bedding or other materials they have touched.
Healthcare providers treating potentially-infected patients should ensure that the patient is properly isolated and that the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is used.

If you are sick with monkeypox, follow CDC guidance on how to isolate and disinfect at home to avoid exposing others.

Testing and Treatment

At this time, the risk to the general public appears to be low. Individuals who believe they were exposed to monkeypox or have an illness that could be monkeypox should contact their healthcare provider. People without a provider or insurance should visit health.maryland.gov/CSTIP/local to find contact information for their local health department.

Healthcare providers who suspect human monkeypox in a patient can now order testing directly through some commercial laboratories. Providers seeking monkeypox virus testing at the MDH laboratory must get health department approval prior to submitting specimens and follow the MDH Laboratories Administration specimen submission guidance. Healthcare providers should educate patients on home isolation while results are pending.

Human monkeypox vaccine and treatments are not available through routine providers, though the health department can assist with coordinating these resources.