North Carolina's 1st case of monkeypox reported in Haywood County
CLYDE - Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency reported North Carolina's first case of the monkeypox virus on June 24.
A Haywood County resident contracted the rare but potentially serious virus recently and the case was confirmed by State Public Health Laboratory.
The person is isolated at home and, to protect their privacy, HCHHSA is not sharing further information about the case.
No cases have been reported in Buncombe, according to Health and Human Services spokesperson Stacey Wood.
Since May, 156 cases monkeypox cases have been identified in the U.S., but there are no deaths yet related to this outbreak.
“We are encouraging providers to pay close attention to the clinical presentation of symptoms consistent with monkeypox," Haywood County Health Director Sarah Henderson said on June 24 in a news release. "If clinicians identify patients with symptoms such as fever, chills and the distinctive vesicular or pustular rash, monkeypox should be considered as a possible diagnosis.”
Monkeypox is a viral illness that typically involves flu-like symptoms, swelling of the lymph nodes, and a rash that includes bumps that are initially filled with fluid before scabbing over, according to the release.
Illness could be confused with a sexually transmitted infection like syphilis or herpes or with chickenpox.
Most infections last two to four weeks.
Epidemiologic investigation of these cases is ongoing. Information about U.S. cases is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"HCHHSA is working closely with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and the patient’s health care providers to identify and notify individuals who may have been in contact with the patient while they were infectious," the release stated.
Monkeypox is typically spread by skin-to-skin contact, and people can take basic steps to prevent its spread.
If they have an unexplained rash, sores, or other symptoms, they should see their health care provider.
If they don’t have a provider or health insurance, they should visit a public health clinic.
"Keep the rash covered and avoid sex or being intimate with anyone until you have been checked out," the release advised.
More information about the virus's nature, treatment, and prevention is available at cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/symptoms.
Andrew Jones is a Buncombe County government and health care reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at @arjonesreports on Facebook and Twitter, 828-226-6203, or arjones@citizentimes.com. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: North Carolina 1st case of monkeypox reported in Haywood County
