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Volume 13, Number 9—September 2007
Research

Spectrum of Infection and Risk Factors for Human Monkeypox, United States, 2003

Mary G. Reynolds*Comments to Author , Whitni B. Davidson*, Aaron T. Curns*, Craig S. Conover†, Gregory Huhn*‡, Jeffrey P. Davis§, Mark Wegner§, Donita R. Croft§, Alexandra Newman*§, Nkolika N. Obiesie¶, Gail R. Hansen¶, Patrick L. Hays¶, Pamela Pontones#, Brad Beard#, Robert Teclaw#, James F. Howell#, Zachary Braden*, Robert C. Holman*, Kevin L. Karem*, and Inger K. Damon*
Author affiliations: *Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; †Illinois Department of Public Health, Chicago, Illinois, USA; ‡Rush University, Chicago, Illinois, USA; §Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; ¶Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Topeka, Kansas, USA; #Indiana State Department of Health, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA;

Main Article

Table 3

Smallpox vaccination status, demographic characteristics, and potential exposures to infected prairie dogs among case-patients and controls, monkeypox virus outbreak, United States, 2003*

Characteristic Case-patients, no. (%) Controls, no. (%) OR (95% CI) aOR (95% CI)
Smallpox vaccination
Yes 6 (20.0) 15 (53.6) 0.2 (0.1–0.7)
No 24 (80.0) 13 (46.7)
Age, y†
<18 10 (33.3) 7 (25.0) 1.5 (0.5–4.7) 0.6 (0.2–2.4)
>18 20 (66.7) 21 (75.0)
Sex
Female 17 (56.7) 16 (57.1) 1.0 (0.3–2.8) 0.9 (0.3–2.7)
Male
 13 (43.3)
 12 (42.9)
Type of exposure to prairie dog(s)
Animal as pet
Yes 17 (56.7) 9 (32.1) 2.8 (0.9–8.1) 2.4 (0.8–7.4)
No 13 (43.3) 19 (67.9)
Daily exposure while animal was ill
Yes 23 (76.7) 13 (46.4) 3.8 (1.2–11.7) 4.0 (1.2–13.4)
No 7 (23.3) 15 (53.6)
Touched rash or eye crusts
Yes 18 (60.0) 11 (39.3) 2.3 (0.8–6.6) 2.2 (0.7–6.7)
No 12 (40.0) 17 (60.7)
Scratched‡
Yes 9 (30.0) 2 (7.1) 5.6 (1.1–28.6) 3.9 (0.7–21.1)
No 21 (70.0) 26 (92.9)
Cleaned cage/touched bedding
Yes 14 (46.7) 4 (14.3) 5.3 (1.5–18.9) 5.3 (1.4–20.7)
No 16 (53.3) 24 (85.7)
Proximity, no touching§
Yes 12 (40.0) 7 (25.0) 2.0 (0.6–6.2) 2.0 (0.6–6.5)
No 18 (60.0) 21 (75.0)
Direct exposure¶
Yes 23 (76.7) 13 (46.4) 3.8 (1.2–11.7) 4.0 (1.2–13.4)
No 7 (23.3) 15 (53.6)

*OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; aOR, adjusted OR. The aORs and 95% CIs were adjusted for history of (>1) smallpox vaccination at any time during case-patient’s life.
†Routine immunization was stopped in the United States in 1972 (18), persons <33 years of age at the time of the outbreak were unlikely to have received prior smallpox vaccination.
‡Scratched with a break in the skin.
§Came within 6 feet of the prairie dog but never touched it.
¶Direct exposure to an infected animal included having touched the animal or having received a bite or scratch from it sufficient to break the skin.

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Page created: July 01, 2010
Page updated: July 01, 2010
Page reviewed: July 01, 2010
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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