Monkeypox: What You Need To Know

As the monkeypox outbreak spreads across the United States, you may have a lot of questions and concerns. The following information will help you learn more about the disease and how to protect yourself and others.

What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a viral disease known for its blister-like rash. It's part of the same family of viruses that causes smallpox, but monkeypox is rarely fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the disease can spread to anyone through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact. The U.S. declared the outbreak a public health emergency on August 4, 2022.

Symptoms

Monkeypox symptoms include a skin rash that looks like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy. The rash might be followed by other flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, headache, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, and back pain.

How it spreads

Monkeypox spreads primarily through close, skin-to-skin contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or fluids. Close contact includes sexual contact, kissing, massage, and extended face-to-face contact with a person who has the disease. It can also spread in other ways, and is contagious from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed.

Prevention and vaccines

• Protecting yourself
  To prevent getting monkeypox, avoid close contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox. Practice safe sex and avoid using items that a person with monkeypox has used, such as eating utensils, cups, clothing, bedding, and towels.
   
• Protecting others
  If you have monkeypox, avoid close contact with others, including pets and other animals. Stay isolated and help reduce the spread by wearing a mask, washing your hands often, and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.
   
• Getting a vaccine
  The monkeypox vaccine is the same vaccine that has been used to prevent smallpox for more than 200 years. The CDC recommends a monkeypox vaccine for people who have had close contact with someone who has the virus or multiple sexual partners in the last two weeks in areas with known monkeypox outbreaks. They also suggest that people who work in certain laboratory or healthcare jobs get the vaccine.
   

Testing

If you think you have monkeypox, contact your doctor or other healthcare professional. They'll help determine if you should be tested for the virus. If testing is needed, your doctor will swab your rash and send it to a lab. Results will be available in a few days. Monkeypox is not a medical emergency, so you do not need to go to the emergency room.

Treatment and recovery

Most people with monkeypox recover fully within two to four weeks without the need for medical treatment. Some people, like those with a weakened immune system or who develop the rash in more sensitive areas of the body, may need treatment. While there is no specific monkeypox treatment, the antiviral medicine used to treat smallpox can be used to treat monkeypox infections. The risk of death is low. The CDC also has guidance on how to take care of yourself if you are sick.

Coverage for Monkeypox immunizations and testing

Empire will cover the following with no out-of-pocket costs if you have a fully insured health plan or are a member of the New York State Health Benefits Plan:

• Monkeypox virus immunization and the visit where you receive the immunization, regardless of whether the healthcare professional who provides the immunization is in your plan's network.
   
• Monkeypox virus testing performed by a lab in your plan's network.
   
• Visiting a healthcare professional or facility in your plan's network to diagnose the monkeypox virus.
   

You can determine whether you have a fully insured health plan by looking at the back of your ID card. If it says fully insured coverage you are eligible for these benefits. If you have a high-deductible health plan and you’ve met your deductible, then you won’t have any out-of-pocket costs.

If you're not sure which type of health plan you have, please log in to chat with us. If you prefer, call the Member Services number on your ID card.

Additional resources

• For the most up-to-date monkeypox information, go to cdc.gov.
• To find a doctor, use the Find Care feature on empireblue.com.
• For mental health support and resources, visit PsychHub or empireblue.com.
• To access caregiving and community resources, download the ianacare app or visit archangels.com or the Caregiver Action Network.

_{Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Monkeypox (accessed August 2022): cdc.gov.}