NIH OAR statement on monkeypox

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of AIDS Research (OAR) supports the position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HHS Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP), and the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) to emphasize the importance of non-stigmatizing language and practices to ensure equitable and responsive public health action related to the mpox outbreak in the United States and globally. The NIH OAR reiterates that anyone with exposure to mpox virus can become infected in the United States or abroad, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. For persons with HIV or at risk of HIV acquisition, the initiation and adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are critical, regardless of mpox virus exposure.

The HIV clinical guidelines working groups of the NIH OAR Advisory Council, in conjunction with the CDC and Infectious Diseases Society of America, will continue to monitor the outbreak and issue specific clinical recommendations regarding HIV and mpox co-infection when warranted.

Links for the most up-to-date information include:

About mpox: https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/staying-in-hiv-care/other-related-health-issues/monkeypox

Clinical guidelines: https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/en/guidelines/hiv-clinical-guidelines-adult-and-adolescent-opportunistic-infections/monkeypox

Interim clinical considerations for use of mpox vaccines: https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/clinicians/smallpox-vaccine.html

Mpox treatment information for health care professionals: https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/clinicians/treatment.html

Maureen M. Goodenow, Ph.D.
Associate Director for AIDS Research and
Director, Office of AIDS Research
National Institutes of Health