There are now ten confirmed cases of monkeypox in Nebraska. One case was confirmed in Lancaster County earlier this summer. Most of the cases have been confirmed in Douglas County.
Monkeypox is now a global health emergency of international concern. As of Monday, there are 22,485 cases internationally.
Bryan Health’s Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Daniel Smith says preventing the spread is vital in controlling the outbreak. He says, “If you avoid the intimate skin-to-skin contact you can help stop the spread. Also by stopping or not sharing towels or linens or clothing with somebody who has monkeypox.”
Dr. Smith says there are hundreds-of-thousands of doses of the vaccine in our national stockpile. He says that can increase the vaccination of close contacts to prevent this from becoming a pandemic.
The CDC reports symptoms of monkeypox can include:
Fever
Headache
Muscle aches and backache
Swollen lymph nodes
Chills
Exhaustion
Respiratory symptoms (e.g. sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)
A rash that may be located on or near the genitals or anus but could also be on other areas like the hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth.
The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing.
The rash can look like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy.
You may experience all or only a few symptoms
There are 5,189 confirmed cases in the U.S., Wyoming and Montana, remain case free.
Cases in states surrounding Nebraska include:
1 case each in South Dakota and Kansas
9 in Missouri
10 cases have been reported in Iowa
53 in Colorado