Mpox (Monkeypox) Situational Awareness

Course overview

Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is caused by the mpox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus. It is a viral disease that exists in multiple countries around the globe. Mpox generally causes less severe illness than smallpox. Diverse methods of transmission include close contact with an infected person or animal or exposure to material contaminated with the virus. A patient may present with fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes, and complications are possible. Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health agencies is evolving. Therapeutic options for mpox may include the smallpox vaccine, cidofovir, tecovirimat, and vaccinia immune globulin (VIG), among others. Pharmacy team members are ideally positioned to engage in healthcare conversations involving monkeypox prevention and countermeasures.