The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the recent
outbreak of monkeypox to be a Public Health Emergency of
International Concern.
Because of the difference in how monkeypox is understood to
spread, there may be less immediate concern about most workplaces
at this time (with the exception of healthcare). At this time,
neither the CDC nor OSHA have issued any workplace rules or
guidances with regard to monkeypox (other than healthcare).
However, employers may want to consider some proactive steps now.
At a basic level, employers should educate themselves with a
general understanding of what monkeypox is, how it spreads, its
symptoms, and recovery. The WHO has said that monkeypox virus is
transmitted through close contact with another infected person,
through contaminated materials, or through an infected animal. In
terms of transmission between people, this appears to require
actual physical contact, although possible transmission by air has
not been ruled
