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- WHO Declares Monkeypox a Global Health Emergency
The World Health Organization announced the multi-country outbreak of monkeypox is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on July 23. The declaration should compel countries to implement strategies aimed at stopping the outbreak, which has increased rapidly over recent weeks.
Globally, there are nearly 17,000 confirmed cases of monkeypox from 75 countries. In the United States, there were 2,891 monkeypox cases as of July 22, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases are confirmed in all states except Alaska, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Vermont, and Wyoming.
FDA Updates Laboratories on Monkeypox Swab Specimen Guidance
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised laboratories testing for monkeypox to use swab specimens taken directly from a lesion (rash or growth) when testing for the virus. The FDA is unaware of clinical data supporting the use of other types of specimens (such as blood or saliva) for monkeypox virus testing. Therefore, testing these other types of specimens may lead to false results.
For more information, please review the FDA safety communication.