First case of monkeypox reported in Rockford area. Here's what you need to know

Corina Curry, Rockford Register Star
·2 min read
1
This image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) shows a colorized transmission electron micrograph of monkeypox particles (red) found within an infected cell (blue), cultured in the laboratory that was captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland.
This image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) shows a colorized transmission electron micrograph of monkeypox particles (red) found within an infected cell (blue), cultured in the laboratory that was captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland.

The Winnebago County Health Department announced Tuesday night the first case of monkeypox in a resident of Winnebago County.

According to the health department, the individual is isolated at home, recovering and remains in contact with the health department and their healthcare provider. The potential contacts of this case have been notified. The risk to Winnebago County residents remains low, the health department said in a news release issued Tuesday night.

"(Monkeypox, or MPV,) does not spread easily between people. The majority of cases seen throughout Illinois and the United States have been spread through direct intimate contact with a rash or sore on someone infected with MPV," the release states. "Activities that can spread MPV include kissing, sex, or other activities with skin-to-skin contact with someone who has the MPV virus. It can also spread through clothing, bedding/linens, or other materials used by a person infected with MPV, or through respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact."

More:Rockford area health officials say they're ready to address monkeypox virus

MPV can be spread from when symptoms start until all sores have healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. This can take several weeks. While most cases of MPV are self-limited lasting 2 to 4 weeks, severe cases can occur.

The health department recommends the following steps to prevent the spread of MPV:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Avoid skin-to-skin contact with someone with MPV

Don’t share bedding, clothing, towels, personal items, or with someone with MPV

Do not have sex if you or you sex partner(s) feel sick or have a rash or sores and do not kiss or touch each other’s bodies while you are sick.

Call your healthcare provider if you have new or unexplained rash, sores, or other MPV symptoms.

MPV can be spread from when symptoms start until all sores have healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. This can take several weeks. While most cases of MPV are self-limited lasting 2 to 4 weeks, severe cases can occur.

For more information, visit wchd.org/disease-control/monkeypox.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: First case of monkeypox found in Rockford area. What you need to know