Missouri has its first probable case of monkeypox.
The Kansas City Health Department reported on June 18 that a resident from that part of the state tested positive for the virus. The resident had recently traveled out of state, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).
“We are considering this a probable case of monkeypox virus until we receive final confirmation from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) labs,” said Dr. Marvia Jones, director of the Kansas City Health Department.
Jefferson County Health Department public information officer Brianne Zwiener said no cases have been reported in Jefferson County and there is no reason to be concerned about the virus spreading to our area right now.
“It usually (spreads) from person to person through direct contact with the infectious rash, or the scab or the body fluids,” she said.
Zwiener said close physical contact, like kissing or cuddling or prolonged face-to-face contact, is required for monkeypox to spread from person to person.
“It does have the potential to spread; however, transmission looks a little different than what we have been used to with the last two years of COVID,” she said. “There is always a chance.”
Zwiener said monkeypox is rare.
“If you have any concerns, talk to your healthcare provider,” she said. “For our general public, it's really just education so they know what to look for if and when they would potentially have a situation come up.”
This year’s first case of monkeypox in the U.S. was reported on May 18 after a person had traveled to Canada. As of June 18, a total of 113 confirmed cases had been reported in the country in more than 20 states, according to the CDC.
As of June 17, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that monkeypox cases had been reported in 42 countries this year, for a total of more than 2,100 cases and one death from the virus.
According to the DHSS, monkeypox presents as flu-like symptoms and progresses to lesions, and the illness can be confused with a sexually transmitted infection.
Anyone who has a new or unexplained rash, sores, or symptoms, or has a confirmed exposure to monkeypox should see a healthcare provider and avoid being intimate with anyone, the DHSS reported.
Zwiener said frequent hand-washing is a good hygiene to always practice and will help limit the spread of viruses, including monkeypox.
The smallpox vaccine is about 85 percent effective in preventing monkeypox, but a newer vaccine to prevent monkeypox was developed in 2019, the WHO reported.