August 15, 2024

U.S. CDC: Mpox Caused by Human-to-Human Transmission of Monkeypox Virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with Spread to Neighboring Countries

Please take a moment to review this information from U.S. CDC on mpox transmission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring countries that involves monkeypox virus Clade I. No cases of clade I mpox have been reported outside central and eastern Africa at this time.

Information for health care providers on mpox testing, vaccination, treatment, and infection control can be found at https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/zoonotic/monkeypox-providers.shtml. Health care providers who suspect mpox in a person with travel to DRC and neighboring countries should send specimens to Maine's Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL) for mpox testing. For patients without travel to DRC and neighboring countries, Maine CDC encourages clinicians to use commercial laboratories for mpox testing.

Maine CDC strongly encourages clinicians evaluating persons for mpox to also evaluate and screen for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia per the U.S. CDC STI Treatment Guidelines.

Any confirmed case of mpox should be reported to Maine CDC by electronic laboratory report or phone. To contact Maine CDC, please call the 24/7 disease reporting number at 800-821-5821.

Advisory (PDF)