The D.C. region continues to report new suspected cases of monkeypox, most recently among the Georgetown University community.

Georgetown’s vice president and chief public health officer, Ranit Mishori, informed the school community Wednesday that someone living off-campus, but near the school, is suspected of having monkeypox, a rare disease that’s similar to smallpox. Mishori said the individual is “doing well,” currently isolating, and that anyone who had been in contact with them and identified through contact tracing should have already been notified.

The case is one of several suspected or confirmed cases reported in D.C. The city’s health department reported the first suspected case earlier this month. As of June 22, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports four suspected or confirmed cases of monkeypox in the District. Maryland reported its first presumptive case last week, while Northern Virginia confirmed the state’s first case in late May.

While the virus of monkeypox that’s currently circulating and driving the global outbreak appears to be manageable — and rarely lethal — health officials are still working to contain the pathogen.

More than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, many locals may be ready to tune out any talk of another pathogen. So what does the average resident need to know about monkeypox? A quick Q&A:

What exactly is monkeypox? And what are the symptoms? 

Monkeypox is a disease endemic to a number of Central and West African countries. An outbreak outside the region emerged in the spring, with the first U.S. case dating back to mid-May, in Massachusetts.  

Monkeypox is in the Orthopox family of viruses, similar to smallpox. Its similarity to that eradicated disease means the public health community already has research and treatment tools for monkeypox.

It causes flu-like symptoms, similar to COVID-19. But people infected by this strain of monkeypox also often get a rash or lesion, typically in the genital area after physical or sexual contact, as well as fever and lymph node swelling. 

The CDC says monkeypox spreads through close contact, like with someone’s infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids. It can also spread through face-to-face contact and kissing, cuddling, or sex.

Infection can but often does not lead to death, particularly in countries with plenty of resources like the U.S. During the nation’s last monkeypox outbreak, in 2003, the CDC reported zero deaths among the 53 cases. There have not yet been any confirmed deaths among the several thousand cases reported globally. People who have compromised immune systems, are pregnant, or have skin conditions run the risk of complications.

How concerned should people in our region be about catching or spreading monkeypox? 

The good news is that monkeypox is not nearly as contagious as COVID-19. Even so, health experts say the atypical symptoms led to some misdiagnoses in the beginning, so monkeypox has been able to stealthily spread.

“The vast majority of Americans don’t need to worry about monkeypox,” Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told DCist/WAMU. “It is something for which we have stopped outbreaks in the past and have major tools at our hands and at our disposal to stop the outbreak. It’s just a question of actually getting to the people that have been exposed to stop onward transmission.” 

He says to expect more cases to emerge, as does DC Health. The federal government just expanded its testing capacity, adding more commercial labs, as cases rise.

The outbreak appears to be concentrated among gay and bisexual men, however, anyone regardless of gender or sexuality can contract the disease. Health officials have been trying to warn queer individuals of the disease’s disproportionate impact without stigmatizing the community.

“It’s really important from the public health perspective for us to make sure that populations that may be more in harm’s way because of how this started are aware of the risk, as well as how to keep themselves healthy,” Demetre Daskalakis, who leads the CDC’s division of HIV/AIDS prevention and is helping with monkeypox outreach, told the Post.

Experts are concerned that the federal government is missing the window to contain the pathogen, saying they are testing people for monkeypox too slowly.

What should people do if they are worried about having monkeypox or coming in close contact with someone who did?

Health departments, including DC Health, strongly recommend anyone experiencing monkeypox symptoms to isolate and contact their health care provider or their health department. Their close contacts should do the same. 

Related:

Listen: What you need to know about monkeypox in the D.C. region