Interim CDC Case Definition for Animal Cases of Monkeypox

Epidemiologic Criteria

• Within 21 days of clinical sign appearance: animal had close contact with a probable or confirmed human or animal monkeypox case
  • Close contact includes petting, cuddling, hugging, kissing, licking, sharing sleeping areas, and sharing food

Clinical Criteria

• Rash or poxvirus-like lesions (macular, papular, vesicular, or pustular; generalized or localized; discrete or confluent)

Other possible clinical signs:

• Conjunctivitis with or without ocular secretion
• Coryza (crusty nose) and/or nasal secretions
• Cough
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Labored breathing
• Bloating
• Fever

Case Classification

Suspect Case

• Meets the epidemiologic criteria, AND
• Rash OR two or more other clinical signs

Probable Case

• Meets the epidemiologic criteria, AND
• Presence of anti-orthopox IgG antibodies by ELISA*

Confirmed Case

• Isolation of Monkeypox virus in culture from a clinical specimen OR demonstration of presence of Monkeypox virus DNA by polymerase chain reaction testing or Next-Generation sequencing of a clinical specimen

* There is a lack of data regarding the timing of anti-orthopoxvirus IgG antibody production in most animal species, however this is generally thought to be detectable between 2-4 weeks post exposure and remain detectable for months or years.