The present outbreak of monkeypox within the U.S. has reached Arkansas, with state well being officers figuring out the primary case on Tuesday.
The newest report from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention says a complete of 559 monkeypox circumstances have been recognized in 32 states. Frequent signs embody fever, headache, muscle ache and a painful rash that may happen as many as one to 2 weeks following publicity.
In a information convention on Wednesday, Arkansas Division of Well being Director Dr. Jennifer Dillaha mentioned the virus is often unfold via a lot nearer contact than what’s usually seen with COVID-19.
“It could be both skin-to-skin contact or shut contact with clothes or one thing that has touched the rash after which another person touches that, however it’s not simply a simple pass-by form of contact, it’s going to be extended contact,” Dillaha mentioned.
Dillaha didn’t give specifics of the place the state’s first case is situated, or whether or not the particular person had lately traveled out of state. She mentioned there are at present two vaccines out there to assist counter the results of the illness as soon as individuals are uncovered.
“Our Outbreak Prevention and Response department has employees that comply with up with [the] affected person and study their historical past, the place they’ve been, who their contacts are. After which we work with the contacts to be sure that they know in regards to the publicity,” Dillaha mentioned.
Dillaha mentioned the Well being Division will likely be conducting contact tracing, much like the COVID-19 pandemic, as extra circumstances will possible be recognized in Arkansas. However in contrast to the coronavirus, she says the virus that causes monkeypox is way much less transmissible.
“Happily, if somebody learns they’ve been uncovered, if they’ll get vaccinated inside 4 days it might forestall them from getting the sickness fully. In the event that they get vaccinated with, say, 4 to 14 days, it might not forestall them from getting the sickness however it might reduce the severity of it,” Dillaha mentioned.
Dillaha mentioned COVID-19 additionally has a far shorter incubation interval in comparison with monkeypox, which may final up to a couple weeks.
Up to now, no deaths have been reported within the present monkeypox outbreak within the U.S. Dillaha says immunocompromised folks and people with pores and skin circumstances like eczema are at the next threat for extra extreme outcomes from contracting the illness.
