Animals infected with monkeypox were imported from Africa into the United States in 2003. There followed spread to prairie dogs and other animals with eventual human infections. The risk of becoming infected can be estimated from the type of exposure that occurred.
Parameters:
(1) risk of animal being infected
(2) type of human exposure to the animal
Risk of Animal Being Infected |
Type of Human Exposure |
Risk |
remote (exposure unlikely) |
no direct contact (indirect contact) |
low |
remote (exposure unlikely) |
direct contact with bite or scratch; contact of an animal's body fluid with mucous membrane or nonintact skin |
low |
remote (exposure unlikely) |
direct contact, other |
low |
possible (exposure likely) |
no direct contact (indirect contact) |
low |
possible (exposure likely) |
direct contact with bite or scratch; contact of an animal's body fluid with mucous membrane or nonintact skin |
high |
possible (exposure likely) |
direct contact, other |
medium |
definite |
no direct contact (indirect contact) |
low |
definite |
direct contact with bite or scratch; contact of an animal's body fluid with mucous membrane or nonintact skin |
high |
definite |
direct contact, other |
medium |
Specialty: Infectious Diseases