Monkey Pox (Orthopox Virus) | Baltimore City Health Department

The Baltimore City Health Department is monitoring the monkeypox (MPX) virus activity in the United States closely.

Individuals who are concerned they may have Monkeypox should call their provider for testing. If you do not have a primary care provider, you can make an appointment at the BCHD Sexual Health and Wellness Clinics for MPX testing.

Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) is offering MPX (Monkeypox) JYNNEOS vaccine through our partner, NOMI Health.

Vaccines are free and available to those who meet registration criteria below.

If you have trouble making an appointment or your link has expired, call the BCHD call center at: 443-984-8650

The terms "Monkeypox", "MPX" and "Mpox" all refer to the virus causing monkeypox disease

The World Health Organization has recently recommended adopting "Mpox" as the preferred term for the disease, addressing concerns of stigmatizing language

BCHD is working to update language and terminology on their website and materials

On May 20th, 2022, the CDC issued a Health Alert Network Health Advisory regarding the first US monkeypox case in 2022 detected in a Massachusetts resident. On June 16, 2022, the Maryland Department of Health reported the first presumed human monkeypox virus infection identified in a Maryland resident. We are closely monitoring monkeypox transmission in the US andensuring rapid identification of cases.

Monkeypox is a rare but serious illness caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox can infect humans and other animals, such as monkeys and rodents. In the past, people in the United States who developed monkeypox had usually traveled internationally or were infected by animals imported to the U.S. Prior to this outbreak, Texas and Maryland each reported a case of monkeypox in 2021 in people with recent travel to countries where monkeypox is endemic in animals.

Since May 2022 many countries worldwide have detected cases, including in Europe and North America. Many of these cases had no travel to endemic areas in the central and western regions of Africa. Its not clear how these people were exposed to monkeypox, but early data suggest that gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men make up a high number of cases. However, anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox is at risk, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

The virus spreads through close, personal, or skin-to-skin contact with someone who has monkeypox. For example:

In parts of central and west Africa where monkeypox occurs, people can be exposed through bites or scratches from rodents and small mammals, preparing wild game, or having contact with an infected animal or possibly animal products.

Symptoms of monkeypox usually begin 7-14 days after exposure, but can range from 5-21 days.

Because monkeypox can be spread via skin-to-skin contact with an infected person, it is important to avoid close, intimate, or sexual contact with anyone who has flu-like symptoms or a rash.

Condoms will not prevent monkeypox.

If you start experiencing symptoms, the most important step you can take is to stay home and isolate yourself from other people in your household. Be alert for the appearance of new rashes characterized by sores, bumps, or fluid-filled bumps, and seek medical evaluation if you develop such a rash. Before your visit, notify your healthcare provider that you are concerned about monkeypox, and whether you recently had close contact with a person who had a similar rash or a person who has been diagnosed with monkeypox. If you have upcoming international travel, make an appointment at a travel clinic to see if you need any vaccinations.

Contact Information

Acute Communicable Diseases

Division of Population Health and Disease Prevention

1001 E. Fayette St., Baltimore MD 21202

Phone number 8:30am to 4:30pm 410-396-4436 ||Fax number 410-625-0688

After hours 410-396-3100

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Monkey Pox (Orthopox Virus) | Baltimore City Health Department