August 2022: Federal Government Declares Monkeypox Outbreak a Public Health Emergency

Update Applicable to:
All employers.

What happened?
On August 4, 2022, the Biden administration declared the Monkeypox (MPV) outbreak a public health emergency, on the heels of similar announcements by various states and localities and the World Health Organization.

What are the details?

On July 23, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director declared MPV a public health emergency of international concern. In addition, many states, including California, Illinois, and New York, have declared a state of emergency due to the MPV outbreak.

The information affecting the workplace is still somewhat limited. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people with monkeypox remain isolated at home or in another location for the duration of the illness, which typically can last two to four weeks.

Below are some key information and guidance regarding MPV our trusted source, Littler:

• What Exactly is Monkeypox?
• How is it Spread?
• Signs and Symptoms
• Basic Prevention

For more information, please see the links below:

Biden Administration Announcement

World Health Organization Declaration

CDC Monkeypox Index

Article 1 – Article 2 – Article 3

What do employers need to do?
Employers should review the links provided above and put in place hygiene policies if they haven’t already to reduce the spread of disease.

Employers should also remember that Monkeypox has an incubation period of six to thirteen days, and it can take weeks for the skin blisters to clear.

Employees eligible for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) may be covered, and employers may want to consider this case-by-case basis.