HJAR Nov/Dec 2022

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  NOV / DEC 2022 39 Jennifer Dillaha, MD Director Arkansas Department of Health • Men who have sex with men who en- gage in one or more of the following: • Have had multiple sex partners within the past year. • Engage in anonymous or group sex. • Engage in sex at venues or events. • Are living with HIV. • Anyone, including women, who has a partner that meets the criteria above. • Anyone diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the past six months. • Anyone who has had skin-to-skin con- tact with someone known or suspected to have monkeypox within the last 14 days. • Anyone whose medical provider rec- ommends they get the vaccine. Healthcare providers who have patients with unexpected rashes should consider monkeypox as the potential cause and test for it. While theADH offers testing and treat- ment, other healthcare providers are also encouraged to provide testing and treat- ment to allow people to get help within their communities and not have to travel long distances for healthcare. If a specimen is sent to theADHGlen F. Baker Public Health Laboratory for testing, a positive result will be reported automatically toADH. If a speci- men was sent to another laboratory and is confirmed to be positive, the healthcare provider should report the positive case to the ADH by filling out a Communicable Disease Reporting Form about the result and faxing the form to (501) 661-2300. This form may be found at https://www. healthy.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/pdf/ CommunicableDiseaseReportingForm.pdf. There are no treatments specifically for monkeypox, although there are drugs a healthcare provider can prescribe to help treat the disease effectively. Most people with monkeypox recover fully within two to four weeks without needing medical treat- ment. However, people at increased risk of severe illness or who develop the rash in their eyes, mouths, or other areas, such as genitals, may benefit from a drug called TPOXX, which is available through ADH. If TPOXX is needed, healthcare providers should contact ADH Outbreak Response at (501) 537-8969 or, after hours, at (800) 554-5738. If a person has monkeypox, they should take these steps: • Notify their close contacts as soon as possible so they may consider getting vaccinated. • Avoid close or physical contact with other people and animals. This includes sex or being intimate with anyone. • Stay home and isolate until their mon- keypox rash has healed with a new lay- er of skin and they are symptom-free. • Do not share items worn or handled by anyone withmonkeypox. This includes eating utensils and cups. • Launder or disinfect items worn or handled before use by others. • Deep clean surfaces that have been touched. • Talk to their healthcare provider about treatment, especially if they are more likely to become severely ill, like pa- tients with weakened immune systems. • Avoid crowds if they must go out. • Wash hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based sanitizer, espe- cially after direct contact with the rash. I encourage everyone in affected commu- nities and within the healthcare community to learn more about monkeypox and take steps to stop its spread. For more information, visit healthyar.info/ MPX or call (800) 803-7847. n • Avoid sharing clothes, bedding, or tow- els with anyone who has monkeypox. • Wash their hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sani- tizer, especially before eating or touch- ing their face and using the bathroom. Monkeypox can spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. Symptoms usually begin within three weeks of exposure to the virus. If a person is exposed, they should take the following actions: • Consider vaccination within the first four days after exposure. • Check themselves for signs and symp- toms of monkeypox for 21 days. If they remain symptom-free, then they can continue with their daily activities. • If symptoms develop, they should avoid close contact with others until examined and tested by a healthcare provider. They should continue to stay away from others until the test results are available and negative. Vaccination with the JYNNEOS vaccine, which the FDAhas approved for the preven- tion of monkeypox, is an important tool to prevent spread. Getting vaccinated as soon as possible after exposure to someone with monkeypox (ideally within four days) pro- vides the best chance of preventing the dis- ease or lessening its severity. Vaccinations are available at theArkansas Department of Health Local Health Units in all 75 counties within the state. It is also available at other clinics and pharmacies around the state. A location finder tool is also available on the ADH website at healthyar.info/MPX. The ADH recommends that people talk with their healthcare provider before getting vaccinated. The following people are eligible for the vaccine in Arkansas: