Alamance County sees first case of monkeypox. Now what? Here's everything you need to know.
The Alamance County Health Department identified its first case of monkeypox on August 18. According to news sources, the unidentified person is currently in isolation at home.
The current case count of monkeypox/orthopoxvirus transmissions in the state of North Carolina is 188. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), the first occurrence of the virus in the state appeared on June 23.
Monkeypox is classified as a rare disease that originated in West and Central Africa. Prior to this year, most related cases were linked to international travel.
The NCDHHS states that the virus can be spread from person to person through infected bodily fluids, items that have made contact with bodily fluids or lesion crusts, and respiratory droplets. The typical isolation time has been 7-14 days, but the NCDHHS added that the time can range from 5-21 days depending on the circumstances.
To gain more information on the spread of monkeypox through the state of North Carolina, the Times-News spoke with local health professionals in the Alamance County community.
How is monkeypox spread? How can we prevent/slow the spread?
Monkeypox is spread primarily through skin-to-skin contact with lesions or fluid from the lesions. "In general, the contagious fluids from the rash contain the most viral particles," according to Dr. Cynthia Snider, the medical director for infectious diseases with Cone Health Medical Group.
Tony LoGiudice, the public health director for the Alamance County Government added that "it can also be spread through contact with items such as clothing or bedding that had contact with monkeypox lesions, or by contact with respiratory secretions." He also provided a list of steps to take to avoid potentially contracting the virus.
1. Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with monkeypox has used.
Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox.
Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox.
2. Wash your hands often.
Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially before eating or touching your face and before and after you use the bathroom.
3. Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox.
Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox.
Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with monkeypox.
4. Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with monkeypox has used.
Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox.
Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox.
Common misconceptions about the virus
Snider stated that although she's heard many people say that it's a sexually transmitted infection that only affects particular groups of people, that's not necessarily true. The virus is transmitted through prolonged physical contact. Therefore, monkeypox can be contracted through sex, but it can also occur through non-sexual physical contact as well.
LoGiudice also clarified that the virus is not related to chickenpox. "Monkeypox virus is part of the same family of viruses as variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms but milder, and monkeypox is rarely fatal," he added.
"Prior to the 2022 outbreak, monkeypox had been reported in people in several central and western African countries. Previously, almost all monkeypox cases in people outside of Africa were linked to international travel to countries where the disease commonly occurs or through imported animals," said LoGuidice. However, there was a milder outbreak of monkeypox in the U.S. in 2003 associated with pet rodents.
He also stated that the virus can be acquired "through infected animals, either by being scratched or bitten by the animal, or by preparing or eating meat or using products from an infected animal."
What are symptoms to look for as monkeypox identifiers?
"Most people are noticing the onset of a rash that becomes pustular," said Snider, regarding the most common physical symptom. Typically, this rash will appear about a week after coming into contact with someone infected.
She added that some people have also reportedly been suffering from flu-like symptoms and swollen lymph nodes. However, "it doesn't always happen together," she said. Some people may only experience the rash, while other people's bodily symptoms may differ from the previous symptoms.
LoGiudice added that other flu-like symptoms may include chills or muscle aches and that the rash will look like "pimples, blisters, or scabs." Also, the rash may be painful or itchy.
Best steps to take following exposure
LoGiudice advises contacting your medical provider or a local health department "if you had close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with monkeypox, or have symptoms of monkeypox including unexplained bumps, sores, blisters, or pimples that look like monkeypox."
Snider added that it's best to isolate at home if you've potentially been exposed. She advised against sharing a bed with anybody else and said to monitor yourself for any physical symptoms that may occur. Also, she mentioned that the monkeypox vaccine can help potentially prevent the virus, or at least shorten the course of time where symptoms are occurring.
The vaccine is not currently available in Alamance County, however, it's available in other counties including Guilford, Forsyth, Durham, and Wake Counties. Although it's available, there are currently restrictions on who has access to this vaccine.
The full list of North Carolina monkeypox vaccine facilities, along with the current eligibility criteria is available on the NCDHHS's website. The current criteria, according to LoGiudice, are listed below:
Anyone who had close contact in the past two weeks with someone who has been diagnosed with monkeypox, or
Gay or bisexual men or transgender individuals who report any of the following in the last 90 days:
Having multiple sex partners or anonymous sex
Being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection
Receiving medications to prevent HIV infection (PrEP)
The spread of monkeypox
Snider believes that the number of cases in the community will continue to increase because her department feels that "there are folks in the community that have monkeypox and are yet to be diagnosed." LoGiudice added that since the numbers are continuing to increase statewide, the emergence of more cases in Alamance County is likely.
However, the transmission of this virus will be very different than the COVID-19 pandemic. "Unlike COVID19, which was a new virus, monkeypox has been around for decades and has been better studied," said LoGuidice.
"Though we will see an increase of cases in our community, it will be different than SARS-CoV-2," Snider added.
Testing is widely available and encouraged if you believe you've contracted the virus. LoGuidice also stated that there's no shortage of testing supplies in the community.
This article originally appeared on Times-News: First case of monkeypox in Alamance County prompts questions
