Monkey Pox

Monkey Pox

Monkey Pox was first identified in Massachusetts on May 18, 2022.  As of  August 1, 2022, there have been over 134 confirmed cases throughout the state.  Monkey Pox is a rare viral illness with an incubation period of up to 21 days (typically 1 -2 weeks). Illness may begin with flu-like signs and symptoms (fever, chills, malaise, headache, muscle aches/back aches) and swelling of the lymph nodes and progresses to 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 or genitals. Most infections last two (2) to four (4) weeks and people are considered infectious throughout duration of symptoms.

The virus does not spread easily between people; transmission most frequently occurs through direct contact with monkey pox rash lesions, scabs, or body fluids. The virus can also be spread through contact with items that touched the rash lesions or body fluids (clothing, bedding, etc.), or through large respiratory droplets following prolonged face-to-face contact.  Monkey Pox can occur concurrently with other illnesses, including other rash illnesses such as varicella-zoster virus and herpes simplex virus infections.

For more information, visit the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website at:

https://www.mass.gov/monkeypox.  You may also contact the Holbrook Board of Health Department at 781-767-3030 or email amyers@holbrookmassachusetts.us