Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which is a member of the Poxviridae family of viruses. It is transmitted through direct or indirect contact with fluid secretions. Initial symptoms include fever, chills, headache, and malaise, followed by a maculopapular rash that starts on the face and progresses centrifugally. Polymerase chain reaction is the preferred laboratory test for the diagnosis, and management is mostly supportive. The clinical presentation of monkeypox is quite similar to that of another member of the Poxviridae family: smallpox, which wreaked havoc in the 20th century, before being eradicated with the help of the vaccinia virus vaccine in 1977. This vaccine protects not only against smallpox but also monkeypox; therefore, when use of this vaccine was discontinued, monkeypox had a new susceptible population to infect and way to proliferate and evolve. Initially the disease spread in Africa, but now the more evolved monkeypox is quickly spreading to other countries. On July 23, 2022, the World Health Organization declared this multicountry outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. Given its mutating ability and high transmissibility, we need to quickly devise measures to control this virus before it turns into a pandemic.

Planning a birth with few to no medical interventions? Learn how at your own time and pace! This interactive online course builds on what you have already learned in a standard childbirth preparation class. You will learn more about natural childbirth, comfort techniques, and how to write a natural birth plan. By watching several birth stories, you will also get a sense of what natural birth is like. Allow 3-4 hours to complete.

This interactive online course covers essential information for the first two weeks after birth, including taking care of yourself, caring for your newborn, and feeding your baby. It also highlights important warning signs, so you know when to call for help. Allow about 2 hours to complete.

Learn about breastfeeding from the comfort of your home. Not every family is able to attend parent education classes in person, while others learn better with a self-study class. This interactive, web-based instruction contains animated illustrations, videos and games to make learning easy and fun. Portal instructions and access code will be sent to you in your confirmation email following registration.