(Lancaster County, NE) -- The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department reports its first presumed case of monkeypox in Lancaster County.
The health department says confirmatory testing is currently being performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The person is a man in his 30s with recent travel history outside of Nebraska. He is isolating at home. The Health Department is currently investigating potential close contacts and will notify those who may have been exposed.
Monkeypox is a disease caused by a virus and is primarily spread through close, skin to skin contact with someone who has a monkeypox rash. Although the risk to the public is considered low at this time, the health department says it’s important to be aware that the virus has been identified in the area. The Health Department recommends that anyone who has an unexplained rash or other monkeypox symptoms contact their healthcare provider to be evaluated.
Symptoms
- A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals or anus. The rash goes through different stages before healing completely. This process can take several weeks.
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches or backache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Chills
- Exhaustion
The health department says sometimes, people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience a rash. There is no specific treatment for monkeypox but some antiviral medications have been used effectively. Some people who have had close, personal contact with a person who has the virus may be able to receive a vaccine for the prevention of monkeypox.