Please notify Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) about patients you are testing for mpox (monkeypox) at cdepidutyofficer@srhd.org using encrypted/secure email or call 509.324.1442 during business hours. Please use 509.869.3133 after hours. You may also send notifications via fax at 509.324.3623.
If you suspect mpox but are unsure if you should test, contact the SRHD Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CD Epi) duty officer to discuss.
“Information For Healthcare Professionals,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, last updated August 19, 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/clinicians/index.html.
“Preparation and Collection of Specimens,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Last updated August 26, 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/clinicians/prep-collection-specimens.html.
Patients who are suspected of having mpox must be given isolation instructions by the clinician.
Please review the resources below each time you consider treatment for a patient infected with mpox. These guidelines are being updated frequently.
Please review the following resources from the CDC regarding clinical considerations for people who are children or adolescents, pregnant or breastfeeding, or living with HIV.
Information about mpox PEP, PEP++, and PrEP can be found on the CDC website here Considerations for Mpox Vaccination.
SRHD has a supply of JYNNEOS vaccine and is providing PEP and PEP++ to individuals who meet certain eligibility criteria. Eligible patients can visit srhd.org/events to find and sign up for upcoming mpox vaccination clinics. At this time, only individuals who meet the eligibility criteria should sign up to receive the JYNNEOS vaccine. Current eligibility criteria are included in the clinic description.
If patients find that a given date is already full, they can request to be added to a wait list. Patients who do not have internet access can call 509.324.1442 for assistance.
JYNNEOS is licensed for a two-dose series given at an interval of 28 days. In the setting of limited vaccine supply, DOH recommends prioritizing the administration of first vaccine doses rather than retaining inventory for second doses. This means that some people may have their second dose of vaccine delayed beyond 28 days until vaccine supply increases. Exceptions include people with moderate to severe immunosuppression, for whom the second dose should be administered as close to 28 days after the first dose as possible.
Notify the SRHD Communicable Disease Epidemiology duty officer of all work exposures at cdepidutyofficer@srhd.org using encrypted/secure email or call 509.324.1442 during business hours or 509.869.3133 after hours.
Please review the links below each time an employee exposure occurs at your facility as guidance is being updated frequently and may change.
Your facility is responsible for determining the degree of exposure (high, intermediate, or low/uncertain) for staff who are exposed at work, as well as managing the 21-day symptom monitoring period.
Your organization’s employee health/infection preventionists should use this letter (fillable PDF) to communicate and manage exposures at work: Letter to employee who may have been exposed to mpox.
This employee letter will continue to be updated. Please access this document from srhd.org EACH time you need to use it.
SRHD’s role in support of the community and local health organizations includes the following functions:
