The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department on Thursday reported two additional presumed cases of monkeypox in Lancaster County, bringing the total number of cases in the area to three. Confirmatory testing is currently being performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Health Department is currently investigating potential close contacts and will notify those who may have been exposed.
Monkeypox is a disease caused by a virus and is primarily spread through close, skin to skin contact with someone who has a monkeypox rash. It can also be spread by contact with fabrics, objects or surfaces that have been used by someone who has the virus and by contact with respiratory secretions through face-to-face contact, like kissing.
Although the risk to the public is considered low at this time, it’s important to be aware that this virus has been identified in our area and we could see additional cases. The Health Department recommends that anyone who has an unexplained rash or other monkeypox symptoms contact their healthcare provider to be evaluated.
Symptoms
- A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals or anus. The rash goes through different stages before healing completely. This process can take several weeks. Sometimes, people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience a rash. Find pictures of monkeypox rash at https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/symptoms.html
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches or backache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Chills
- Exhaustion