Georgia Department of Public Health News Release: Monkeypox Transmission in Public Settings

ATLANTA, 8/9/22 –The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) continues to closely monitor the
current outbreak of monkeypox in the state. As of today, there are 625 confirmed monkeypox
cases in Georgia. Testing and vaccination are available in health districts throughout the state;
however, vaccine supplies from the federal government remain limited.
The monkeypox virus can spread from person-to-person through direct contact with the
infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids. It also can be spread by respiratory secretions during
prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or
sex.

More than 90% of the people with monkeypox in the current outbreak generally report having
close, sustained physical contact with other people who have monkeypox. While many of those
affected in the current global outbreaks are gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men,
anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox can get the illness.
Touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body
fluids is another way monkeypox spreads but has not been identified to be a common mode
of transmission in this outbreak or for monkeypox in general.
The risk of contracting monkeypox is based on exposure – an individual must be exposed to
enough virus to become infected. What is currently known about monkeypox transmission
indicates that sharing bedding or towels with someone who is infected with monkeypox
would carry more risk than passing encounters with money or a door handle or other
environmental surfaces.

For more information on monkeypox, visit https://dph.georgia.gov/monkeypox or https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.html.

Most non-healthcare settings where people congregate such as workplaces, schools, grocery
stores, gas station, or public transportation are not considered high risk settings for monkeypox
transmission. It is important to remember that monkeypox is not transmitted like COVID
and typically takes skin-to-skin or other close contact to transmit. Unlike COVID or
measles, this means far lower risk to persons that may be in a room with someone with
monkeypox, but who do not have contact with the infected individual.

There are things you can do to protect yourself from getting monkeypox:
• Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox.
• Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox.
• Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with monkeypox.
• Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with monkeypox has used.
• Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox.
• Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially before eating or touching your face and after you use the bathroom.

Click HERE to download a .pdf of the DPH News Release