All Tulsa Health Department locations are closed Fri, March 29th in observance of Good Friday. We will reopen on Mon, April 1st at 8:00 a.m.
All Tulsa Health Department locations are closed Fri, March 29th in observance of Good Friday. We will reopen on Mon, April 1st at 8:00 a.m.
Mpox is a rare illness that causes rash, chills, and fever. It is caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox.
Mpox is a reportable disease in Oklahoma as an unusual condition. Mpox is a rash that can look like pimples or blisters on the face, the inside of the mouth, hands, feet, chest, genitals or anus. Mpox infections are typically not severe; symptoms are usually similar to the flu with a rash and resolve within 2-4 weeks.
The general population is currently at low risk for contracting mpox, but careful surveillance of the outbreak by the public health and health care sectors is needed. Medical providers should be on alert for any patient who is experiencing a rash that is characteristic of mpox and follow CDC guidelines on next steps, including infection control, testing and reporting.
According to CDC and other public health laboratory officials, current U.S. testing capacity is sufficient, but capacity is being added in commercial and public health laboratories in case it is needed.
The Department of Health and Human Services declared mpox a public health emergency in early August 2022. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced it would not renew mpox, the virus formerly known as monkeypox, as a public health emergency after January 31, 2023, following a drop in cases.
WHO and CDC Rename Monkeypox Virus “Mpox”
On November 28, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended renaming the monkeypox virus “mpox,” a change intended to mitigate racist and stigmatizing language associated with the original name. The WHO will use both names simultaneously for one year while “monkeypox” is phased out. Following the WHO’s announcement, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it and other federal agencies would also adopt mpox moving forward. The CDC is also encouraging all partners to adopt mpox as the new terminology, especially in public communications. The virus was named human monkeypox prior to the WHO’s best practices in naming diseases, which states that names should minimize any unnecessary negative impacts on trade, travel, tourism or animal welfare, and avoid causing offense to any social, national, regional, professional or ethnic groups.
Mpox spreads in different ways. The virus can spread from person-to-person through:
Any person, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, can acquire and spread mpox. Currently, a large proportion of the known mpox cases are among men who have sex with men.
Traveling to a country currently experiencing an outbreak could increase your risk of contracting mpox. If you are planning international travel, check that country’s infection rate on the WHO website. If necessary, consult your doctor about getting a mpox vaccination before traveling, or if you have been exposed.
The spread of mpox is different than the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic:
Symptoms of mpox can include:
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, genitals or anus.
The rash goes through different stages before healing completely. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. Sometimes, people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience a rash.
If you are concerned about having mpox symptoms or exposure, please contact the THD Epi-on-Call, 918-595-4399 or your healthcare provider for advice, testing and medical care. Recommendations for testing &/or vaccination will be provided based on the screening and assessment by THD epidemiologists. Self-isolate away from others to protect them from infection. Cover all possible blisters.
If you have been exposed, monitor yourself for symptoms for 21 days from exposure. If symptoms develop, self-isolate away from others and contact the THD Epi-on-Call or your healthcare provider for advice and testing.
The Tulsa Health Department is administering the Jynneos vaccine in accordance with the priority populations set by the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
The Jynneos vaccine is a two-dose series administered 28 days apart. Visit the Oklahoma State Department of Health for more information on statewide vaccination opportunities.
The CDC has provided the following criteria for eligibility of the JYNNEOS vaccine. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), and its partners, are following the provided criteria. Expanded Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP++) Vaccination after known or presumed exposure to mpox.
The mpox vaccine is currently open to the following eligibility groups:
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
Individuals at higher risk include:
Click below to schedule an appointment at the following Tulsa Health Department locations:
5635 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Tulsa, OK 74126
We have 10 locations across Tulsa County that offer a variety of services to help you and your family stay healthy.