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Douglas County Health Department Investigates Two New Monkeypox Cases

(Douglas County, NE) -- The Douglas County Health Department is investigating two new suspected cases of monkeypox.

DCHD says case investigation and contact tracing is underway. The health department says they will not be releasing any additional details on these individuals to protect their privacy. These are the fifth and sixth cases of monkeypox in the county.

Currently, there is no specific treatment approved for monkeypox virus infections. However, DCHD says antivirals used to treat smallpox may help patients with monkeypox infection. Some people who are at high-risk may be a candidate for the vaccine. DCHD’s vaccine supply remains extremely limited and will be approved only for those individuals at the highest risk.

The health department says it is important to understand that anyone having several minutes of skin-to-skin contact with an infected person is at risk; however, the outbreak currently disproportionately affects men who have sex with men and individuals who meet partners through online websites and digital apps or at social events. Anyone who has traveled to an area with ongoing monkeypox transmission and observes a rash typical of the disease should seek medical evaluation.

The risk to the public is still considered low, but anyone with a characteristic monkeypox rash that looks like pimples or blisters should contact a healthcare provider or call the Health Department at (402) 444-3400. Monkeypox sometimes starts with a fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and exhaustion. The incubation period generally is one to two weeks but can range from five days to three weeks.

DCHD says it is best to contact the provider and inform them of your symptoms and rash before visiting a healthcare facility. Monkeypox is spread through direct contact with an infected person’s rash, scabs, body fluids, or respiratory secretions during prolonged intimate contact, including kissing or cuddling. Some people have been infected by handling clothing or linens used by a person with monkeypox.

More than 21,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported worldwide, while over 4,900 cases have been reported in the United States and its territories.


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