Monkeypox in North Carolina.- 510 Total number of cases. Data as of September 22, 2022

Posted over 1 year ago by Amaka . C . Ofodile

Go to this site for more information. https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/monkeypox

Brief History of Monkeypox

"Monkeypox" was so named as discovered in 1958 in monkeys. However, found in small mammals such as rodents, rats, mice, squirrels, rabbits, and prairie dogs. The first outbreak of Monkeypox in the U.S. get reported in 2003 among people who got sick after coming in contact with infected pet prairie dogs. Historically, most cases of Monkeypox occurred after a person came into contact with an infected wild animal or animal product.

Poxvirus – in the same family as viruses causing molluscum contagiosum and smallpox
First discovered in 1959
Can spread from animals or person-to-person
Endemic to Western and Central Africa

General information on Monkeypox

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by an orthopoxvirus typically found in West and Central Africa. As such, most cases in the U.S. before 2022 have been travel associated. However, a previous outbreak in 2003 associated with pet rodents did result in local transmission in the U.S.

The disease typically begins with a prodrome of fever, exhaustion, headache, and sometimes sore throat and cough. Lymph nodes may swell in the neck, armpits, or groin on one or both sides of the body. Shortly after the prodrome symptoms, a rash appears. In some of the recent cases, the first symptom was a rash. The inflammation stages are listed as flat (macular), raised (papular), fluid-filled (vesicular), pus-filled (pustular), and may umbilicate (the center may open or sink in) before scabbing over and resolving, and happens over 2-3 weeks. Lesions may be all over the body, including the palms, feet, and head, or located only on specific body parts such as the genitals or around the buttocks. The rash may be painful, and during healing, stages may itch.

Monkeypox Vaccinations

Vaccines are available to protect against Monkeypox or to reduce disease severity. NCDHHS has expanded the vaccine eligibility criteria to include:

Anyone who had close contact in the past two weeks with someone who has been diagnosed with Monkeypox; or
Gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, transgender individuals who are sexually active; or
People who have had sexual contact with gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men or transgender individuals in the past 90 days; or
People were living with HIV, taking medication to prevent HIV (PrEP), or were diagnosed with syphilis in the past 90 days.

As of 8/19/2022, 18,448 doses of Jynneos have arrived in N.C. More quantities will become available under phase 4 of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's (HHS's) National Vaccine Strategy.

Link for vaccine location

https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/monkeypox/monkeypox-vaccine-locations/additional-monkeypox-vaccine-locations

Monkeypox in North Carolina. 510Total number of cases.97%Male, 70%Black, 18,577Vaccines Administered- https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/monkeypox#MPXCriteria