Shasta County reports first case of suspected monkeypox

Michele Chandler, Redding Record Searchlight
·3 min read

Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency on Tuesday identified the first probable case of monkeypox in the county since the outbreak of the contagious disease began in the U.S. earlier this year.

The agency described the resident’s monkeypox case as “probable,” meaning a lab found it to fall within the orthopoxvirus family.

The agency said it is conducting contact tracing and a case investigation.

For privacy reasons, no other information about the case is available.

Some labs can test specifically for monkeypox DNA and identify cases as “confirmed.” The state counts both probable and confirmed cases in its monkeypox data.

Although this news confirms the presence of monkeypox in our area, the current risk of getting monkeypox remains very low, says HHSA Branch Director Robin Schurig.

An illustration of monkeypox virus particles. This virus causes disease in humans and monkeys, although its natural hosts are rodents.
An illustration of monkeypox virus particles. This virus causes disease in humans and monkeys, although its natural hosts are rodents.

“While it’s good to stay alert about emerging public health outbreaks, it’s important to keep perspective,” said Schurig. "Monkeypox is not a new disease and is not as contagious as COVID. Simple measures, like not touching an infected person’s monkeypox sores, bedding or towels, can prevent the spread of this virus.”

Anyone can get monkeypox. It is most commonly spread by prolonged physical contact with open sores of a monkeypox rash. It can also be spread — though less easily — through respiratory droplets or by touching contaminated items, such as clothing or bedding.

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There have been 2,663 cases reported in California as of this week, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 16,000 cases have been reported nationwide.

The illness can cause flu-like symptoms and can include a rash that may appear on the face, body, genitals, arms, legs, or all over the body. The rash can be bumpy, flat or fluid-filled and can be painful.

The monkeypox rash can spread from the time symptoms start until all sores have healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed, a process that can take several weeks.

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Anyone with monkeypox symptoms should contact their medical provider, who can swab a lesion and send the sample to a lab for testing.

People who've been exposed to monkeypox or are at high risk of exposure and would like a vaccine should also contact their medical provider to check vaccine availability through Public Health.

Shasta County’s website — ShastaReady.org — has added a "Current Health Concerns" section that includes a monkeypox page giving information about symptoms, isolation and quarantine guidance and answers to frequent questions.

"The need for monkeypox vaccine is not countywide," a statement from HHSA said.

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Because Shasta County has a very limited supply of monkeypox vaccine, the agency is working with community partners to first administer shots to people who are most at risk.

State health officials note that high-risk groups for the disease include gay men, bisexual men, men who have sex with men, transgender men and women, non-binary and other queer people, based on recent infections nationwide.

However, anyone can be infected by monkeypox, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or community affiliation, health officials said.

The vaccine is not the only preventive tool against monkeypox.

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Other ways to prevent exposure include staying away from others if you contract monkeypox and encouraging people to watch for signs such as fever or rash.

Here's where more information is available:

Michele Chandler covers criminal justice issues for the Redding Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. Follow her on Twitter at @MChandler_RS, call her at 530-338-7753 or email her at michele.chandler@redding.com. Please support our entire newsroom's commitment to public service journalism by subscribing today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: First case of suspected monkeypox reported in Shasta County