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June 13, 2003

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

“Monkeypox Spread by Humans Studied”

Chicago Tribune (www.chicagotribune.com) (06/13/03) P. 1; Yates, Jon

Wisconsin officials say they are investigating two possible cases of monkeypox transmission from patients to health care workers, and if the cases are confirmed, it will be the first time in the United States when monkeypox was transmitted between humans.  Person-to-person transmissions are possible but rare.  Public health workers in the Midwest are working on plans to offer smallpox vaccinations to those exposed to the monkeypox virus.  The virus is normally found in West and Central Africa, and officials think it was brought to the United States by an African rodent, sold as a pet, that spread the disease to prairie dogs that were also kept as pets.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended the smallpox vaccine for individuals who have close contact with patients infected with the monkeypox virus, since the vaccine can also help prevent monkeypox, but state officials are still deciding who should get the vaccine and whether to distribute it at all.