Key Points:
Action Items:
(1) Healthcare providers:
a. Notify the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) Communicable Disease Service (CDS) if you have a patient with mpox-like symptoms and history of travel to DRC in the 21 days prior to symptom onset. NJDOH can be reached via telephone at 609-826-4872 during business hours or 609-392-2020 outside of business hours.
b. Healthcare providers should collect specimens from suspect mpox cases with history of travel to DRC in the 21 days prior to symptom onset to be tested at the NJDOH Public Health and Environmental Laboratories. Positive specimens will be subsequently forwarded to CDC for clade-specific testing. Healthcare providers should follow CDC and NJDOH specimen collection recommendations:
c. Healthcare providers should always follow infection control recommendations forsuspect mpox cases: https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/clinicians/infection-control.html
d. While the current threat for Clade I MPXV in travelers remain low, Clade II MPXVinfections continue to occur in New Jersey and in the United States. Healthcareproviders should continue to be alert for mpox cases and notify the local healthdepartment of mpox cases. Healthcare providers should continue to encouragevaccination with JYNNEOS for patients who are at increased risk of exposure andwho have not yet received the two-dose series. Vaccine recommendations can befound here: Mpox Vaccine Recommendations | Mpox | Poxvirus | CDC
(2) Local health departments:
a. Notify NJDOH of any reported suspect mpox cases with a history of travel to DRC in the 21 days prior to symptom onset.
b. Perform prompt investigation and contact tracing for any mpox cases in your jurisdictions, including asking about travel history. All information should be documented in CDRSS. Follow guidelines specified in the NJDOH mpox chapter: https://www.nj.gov/health/monkeypox/documents/For%20Health%20Professionals/MPX_Chapter.pdf
(3) Clinical laboratories:
a. Some non-CDC laboratories may have options available for clade-specific testing. Laboratories who are preforming clade-specific testing should alert NJDOH if they detect Clade I MPXV.
b. All regulations should be followed for packaging and transporting specimens from suspect mpox patients as Category B for diagnostic testing.
c. Clinical laboratories must receive approval from NJDOH Public Health and Environmental Laboratories (PHEL) prior to sending specimens for testing at PHEL.
Contact Information:
•Email: Cds.mpxepi@doh.nj.gov
•Phone: New Jersey Department of Health, Communicable Disease Service 609-826-4872during business hours, or 609-392-2020 outside of business hours
References and Resources:
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