Cases of mpox have declined since peaking in August 2022, but the outbreak is not over. CDC continues to receive reports of cases that reflect ongoing community transmission in the U.S. and internationally, including clusters of cases in Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco that occurred in the spring and summer.
CDC is urging clinicians to be on alert for new cases of mpox and to encourage vaccination for people at risk. If mpox is suspected, test even if the patient was previously vaccinated or had mpox. Clinicians should also refamiliarize themselves with mpox symptoms, specimen collection, laboratory testing procedures, and treatment options.
If you are evaluating a patient suspected to have mpox, immediately report the suspected case to the local health department (LHD) using the Confidential Morbidity Report Portal (Epi-1) or telephone, even if testing is being conducted at a commercial laboratory.
General Information
VDH Clinician Outreach
Mpox screening, prevention, and treatment should be incorporated into routine sexual health and HIV services to ensure all patients are screened for mpox, assessed for risk factors, counseled on prevention measures, and evaluated for testing and treatment, if indicated.
- Virginia Chapter of American College of Physicians Presents: A Current Update on Mpox 12/14/22 (VDH)
- What Healthcare Professionals Need to Know About Mpox 11/2/22 (VDH)
- VDH Mpox Overview for HIV/AIDS Providers
- What Healthcare Professionals Need to Know About Mpox 10/21/22 (VDH)
- Virginia Infection Prevention Training Center: Mpox Update (VDH)
- VDH Mpox Outbreak Briefing for MSV and Virginia Healthcare Providers
Testing
Commercial laboratory testing for mpox is available. VDH encourages providers to use commercial laboratories, but this testing is not free. The laboratories will bill private insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare for all testing performed. Providers may find the relevant CPT code for mpox virus testing on each commercial laboratory’s website. Providers who encounter any issues while trying to order testing should contact the laboratory’s client services.
Public health testing through the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) continues to be available at no cost for patients who meet clinical and epidemiologic criteria; providers should consult with their LHD about this testing.
Labs Conducting Testing and Supporting Information
- AMA Orthopoxvirus Pathology and Laboratory/Microbiology CPT Codes
- FDA Safety Communication: For Monkeypox Testing, Use Lesion Swab Samples to Avoid False Results
- NETEC How to Collect a Monkeypox Specimen for Diagnostic Testing
- Preparation and Collection of Specimens (CDC)
- Testing Patients for Mpox (CDC)
Infection Prevention & Control
Information for Patients and Close Contacts
Vaccine
Special Populations or Settings
Clinician Outreach
- CDC COCA Call: Mpox Update: Stay Up to Date on Testing, Treatment, and Vaccination
- CDC COCA Call: Update on Mpox in Children, Adolescents, and People Who Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding
- CDC COCA Call: Situational Update for Clinicians About Severe Mpox Virus Infections
- CDC COCA Call: CDC and FDA Update: Interim Clinical Considerations for Mpox Vaccination
- CDC COCA Call: Mpox Outbreak: Updates on the Epidemiology, Testing, Treatment, and Vaccination
- CDC COCA Call: Mpox: Updates about Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment
- CDC COCA Call: What Healthcare Providers Need to Know about Mpox in the United States and Other Countries
- CDC Update on the Use of Medical Countermeasures for Mpox Infection slides July 28, 2022
- CDC/IDSA Clinician Call: Mpox: Updates on Testing, Vaccination & Treatment
- CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Update: Potential Risk for New Mpox Cases (5/15/2023)
- CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory: Update on Managing Mpox in Patients Receiving Therapeutics (11/18/2022)
- CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory: Severe Manifestations of Mpox among People who are Immunocompromised Due to HIV or Other Conditions (9/29/2022)
- CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory: Update for Clinicians on Mpox in People with HIV, Children and Adolescents, and People who are Pregnant or Breastfeeding (8/1/2022)
- CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory: Update for Clinicians on Testing and Treatment for Mpox (7/28/2022)
- CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory: Updated Case-finding Guidance: Mpox Outbreak—United States (6/14/2022)
- CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory: Mpox Virus Infection in the United States and Other Non-endemic Countries (5/20/2022)
Last updated: August 16, 2023
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