Oklahoma

‘Remain Vigilant’: Oklahoma health experts address monkeypox concerns

Published

3 years ago

June 2, 2022

‘Remain Vigilant’: Oklahoma health experts address monkeypox concerns

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – As photos of the ugly wanting rash make their rounds, native well being consultants instructed KFOR Wednesday there isn’t any want for pandemic panic, but.

“I believe the chance could be very low proper now in Oklahoma.”

In a public session Monday, the World Well being Group’s (WHO) high monkeypox knowledgeable confirmed that the illness was not spreading at pandemic ranges, however indicated a number of unknowns concerning the illness, together with how precisely it’s spreading and whether or not the suspension of mass smallpox immunization many years in the past could in some way be dashing its transmission.

“One factor that’s necessary to know is that this isn’t precisely like coronavirus,” mentioned David L Holden, M.D.

“Coronavirus is really airborne,” added the doctor, who at the moment serves as President of the Oklahoma State Medical Affiliation.

“We had no thought who had it, who didn’t. It could possibly be spreading it, assume they’ve a chilly or one thing else. Whereas monkeypox, the signs are way more dramatic. And naturally the rash is the telltale signal, however they do keep symptomatic and transmissible for as much as three weeks. So, I believe it behooves us in Oklahoma to make certain and acknowledge that it is a matter.”

“From a historic standpoint, monkeypox is just one variation of what we name orthopox viruses,” mentioned Holden, including that this isn’t the primary time that monkeypox has gotten out, but figuring out its similarities with broader orthopox viruses.

“It had gotten out beforehand,” he mentioned, referring to the illness.

“The distinction has been that this appears to have been a wider explosion of circumstances in a number of international locations,” he continued. “I’ve studied smallpox prior to now that it may be airborne within the sense that in case you shake a blanket out that somebody has been carrying that’s contaminated, the particles off that blanket are contaminated. And in case you breathe that or are available contact with these, theoretically it’s airborne in that sense,” he continued.

Scientists with the Facilities for Illness Management (CDC) mentioned they’ve been monitoring circumstances of monkeypox reported in international locations world wide that haven’t usually seen circumstances of the illness, based on a lately launched journey discover.

“There’s solely been just a few circumstances right here in america. And a really heavy investigation of these circumstances have indicated a number of them have had publicity abroad or had journey historical past or have had contact with any individual who had a kind of threat elements,” mentioned Jolianne Stone, MPH, and State Epidemiologist for the Oklahoma State Division of Well being.

KFOR beforehand reported the variety of monkeypox circumstances at 18, based on information supplied by the CDC information. Nonetheless, since that replace, the most recent information supplied by the well being group reveals the full confirmed monkeypox/orthopoxvirus circumstances as 19.

The well being consultants mentioned whereas the general public well being threat is comparatively low, Oklahomans ought to nonetheless be watchful, significantly in the event that they’ve traveled out of the state.

“We simply need to be vigilant and we’ve to acknowledge, you understand, our society is considerably fragile the way in which we exist now, the way in which we journey, the way in which we work together in mass crowds,” mentioned Dr. Holden. “In case you’re not touring [and] a case pops up in Oklahoma someplace within the state, you’ll know that must be watched carefully.

“That’s the place the state well being division can transfer in and isolate these individuals,” he added.

Jolianne Stone mentioned from the state’s perspective there’s additionally a plan in place to deal with the general public well being concern, if circumstances are recognized in Oklahoma.

“Now we have a plan to get that particular person examined and to ensure that we shield these contacts round them and the people in the neighborhood,” she mentioned. “In case you’ve had shut bodily contact with any individual who may need had a rash or has had publicity to monkeypox and also you assume you is perhaps in danger, definitely contact your well being care supplier and we might work with them on getting testing.”

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma State LB Jeff Roberson Headed to Big 10 School

Published

3 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Oklahoma State LB Jeff Roberson Headed to Big 10 School

Oklahoma State’s most recent transfer portal departure has already found a new home.

On Monday, OSU linebacker Jeff Roberson announced he was entering the transfer portal and looking to close his career elsewhere. Roberson wasted no time finding his next school, as he committed to Minnesota on Thursday.

Roberson began his career at OSU in 2020 and mostly played on special teams and as a backup throughout the first few years of his career. After missing the entire 2022 season with an injury, he came back in 2023 to play largely the same role.

However, his luck changed in 2024. With so many injuries throughout the OSU defense, the Cowboys needed players to step up at every position, and Roberson took advantage. In 2024, Roberson played in every game and finished with 58 tackles, nine tackles for loss and an interception. Before entering the transfer portal, Roberson’s numbers from 2024 would have made him OSU’s leading returning tackler.

Roberson’s departure was about as surprising as any move at OSU this offseason. Considering he had spent the first five seasons of his career in Stillwater and finally carved out a sizeable role last season, it appeared Roberson would carry that momentum into 2025 as a leader of the OSU defense.

Instead, he used his extra opportunity and leap to find a better situation as OSU overhauled its coaching staff and continues to bring in various defensive players through the transfer portal. However, going to Minnesota was the second surprising part of his decision. Early predictions were for Roberson, a Choctaw native, to stay in his home state and play at Oklahoma next season. As he makes his way north to play for PJ Fleck’s team next season, there is no doubt Roberson can have an impact to finish his career.

Want to join the discussion? Like Oklahoma State Cowboys on SI on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Cowboys news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.

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Oklahoma

Gophers help fill need on defense with Oklahoma State linebacker

Published

11 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Gophers help fill need on defense with Oklahoma State linebacker

The Gophers football program addressed a need in the middle of its defense for the 2025 season with Oklahoma State linebacker Jeff Roberson on Thursday night.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound graduate transfer from Choctaw, Okla., totaled 58 tackles, including 8.5 for lost yards, three sacks and one interception in 12 games in 2024. He had a middling 57.7 grade from Pro Football Focus, along with 19 pressures, but also 11 missed tackles last season.

Roberson played 670 snaps last season, but only 107 across 2021 and 2023. He played special teams as a freshman in 2020 and missed the 2022 season with injury.

Roberson will help fill the void left by leading tackler Cody Lindenberg; the Anoka native declared for the NFL draft after the regular season and skipped the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Maverick Baranowski and Devon Williams top the U’s depth chart at linebacker going into next season.

The Gophers have added 15 total players via the NCAA transfer portal since early December and are still looking for help at cornerback and possibly defensive line.

Originally Published: January 10, 2025 at 12:00 AM CST

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Oklahoma

Ole Miss Linebacker Transfer Trip White Commits to Oklahoma State

Published

19 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Ole Miss Linebacker Transfer Trip White Commits to Oklahoma State

TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER

The Cowboys went to the SEC to pick another linebacker out of the portal.

Ole Miss transfer Trip White, who was listed at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds last season, pledged to Oklahoma State, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. White played in all 13 of the Rebels’ games this past season, his redshirt sophomore year. He made one tackle, primarily playing special teams.

White played in three games while maintaining a redshirt as a true freshman in 2022. He appeared in five games in 2023, and to this point has totaled nine career tackles.

Out of Parkview Magnet in Little Rock, Arkansas, White was a three-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class and chose Ole Miss over offers from Arkansas, Kansas State, Baylor, Louisville, Oklahoma State, Indiana and others. The 247Sports Composite system tabbed White as the No. 1,103 player in the class, the No. 109 linebacker in the class and the No. 12 player from Arkansas in 2022. He also started as his team’s quarterback as a high school senior, throwing for 2,035 yards and 19 touchdowns to go with 445 rushing yards and seven more scores.

White becomes the third linebacker the Pokes have grabbed out of the portal, joining Bryan McCoy (Akron) and Brandon Rawls (Saginaw Valley State). White’s addition comes a few days after Jeff Roberson hopped in the portal. With Roberson, Nick Martin, Collin Oliver and Kendal Daniels all gone from last season’s squad, OSU’s linebacker room — like most position rooms — will look quite a bit different heading into 2025. Kap Dede is set to coach that group, with new OSU defensive coordinator Todd Grantham bringing him in from Western Kentucky.

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