Case of mpox, formerly known as Monkey Pox, confirmed in Anchorage

State health officials have confirmed a case of mpox in an adult Anchorage resident, prompting a public health advisory to clinicians while emphasizing that there is no evidence of local community transmission at this time. Mpox is formerly called Monkey Pox, but the name was sanitized by the World Health Organization in 2022 to “combat racists and stigmatizing language,” during a global outbreak.

According to the Alaska Department of Health, the individual recently traveled out of state to an area where mpox activity has been reported. The patient was unvaccinated and reported anonymous sexual contact during travel approximately eight to ten days before developing a rash. The illness has been described as mild, and the individual is isolating and recovering at home.

Public health officials said close contacts have been identified and are undergoing notification, risk assessment, and symptom monitoring. No additional cases linked to the Anchorage resident have been identified.

The confirmed infection involves the strain responsible for most cases reported in the United States in recent years. The department issued the advisory as a reminder for clinicians to remain vigilant, properly test patients with compatible symptoms, and follow infection control and reporting protocols.

Mpox is primarily transmitted through close physical contact, including contact with lesions, body fluids, scabs, prolonged face-to-face respiratory exposure, or contaminated materials. The incubation period typically ranges from three to 17 days. Early symptoms may include fever, chills, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes, though some patients present with a rash as the only symptom.

The rash usually progresses through several stages, from macules, papules, vesicles, pustules, and scabs, and lesions are often firm, deep-seated, well-defined, and sometimes umbilicated, or indented. Lesions commonly appear on the genital area, hands, feet, face, chest, or may be more widespread.

Health officials are advising clinicians to test any patient presenting with a compatible rash, regardless of travel history or sexual history. Mpox can resemble other conditions such as syphilis, herpes, or chickenpox, and should be included in the differential diagnosis for unexplained vesicular or ulcerative lesions, the state advisory says. There is currently no validated test for individuals without symptoms or without active lesions.

Testing is available through the Alaska State Public Health Laboratory and select commercial laboratories. Providers are being advised to confirm specimen requirements in advance, as some laboratories accept only dry swabs. Recommended specimen collection includes taking two swabs from each of two to three lesions, ideally from different sites, using sterile synthetic swabs and non-glass containers. Samples should be refrigerated or frozen until testing.

There is no FDA-approved treatment specifically for mpox, and most patients recover with supportive care, including pain management, hydration, and wound care. Patients who are severely immunocompromised or at risk for severe or prolonged illness may be eligible for treatment under interim clinical guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Vaccination remains available as both post-exposure and pre-exposure protection.