Wyandotte County Has Its First Known Case of Monkeypox

Published on October 04, 2022

Summary

• On October 4, 2022, the Unified Government Public Health Department (UGPHD) announced the first known monkeypox case in Wyandotte County during the current global outbreak.
• KDHE and the UGPHD will work together to respond to this case and monitor monkeypox in Wyandotte County.
• Monkeypox risk for the general population in Wyandotte County is low at this time.
• The UGPHD has monkeypox vaccines for people who may be at higher risk of exposure to monkeypox. To learn more and sign up for a monkeypox vaccine, visit: ughealth.info/monkeypox

October 4, 2022 (Kansas City, KS) – Today the Unified Government Public Health Department of Wyandotte County (UGPHD) announced the first known case of monkeypox in Wyandotte County during the current global outbreak. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) confirmed the positive case on October 4, 2022. The individual with monkeypox is isolating at home. Further patient information will not be shared to protect privacy. KDHE has reached out to close contacts of this individual who may have been exposed.

Risk of community spread is low. KDHE and the UGPHD will work together to respond to this case and monitor monkeypox in Wyandotte County.

Monkeypox Vaccines

The UGPHD has monkeypox vaccines available for people who are at higher risk of being exposed to monkeypox. Criteria for higher risk is based on guidelines from the CDC and KDHE. People interested in getting a monkeypox vaccine can now fill out a form online to see if they can get vaccinated or be added to a vaccination waitlist.

To fill out the online Monkeypox Vaccine Sign-up form, visit the UGPHD’s “Alerts” page with monkeypox information at ughealth.info/monkeypox. The highest priority will be given to people who are currently most at risk of being exposed to the monkeypox virus. To access the Monkeypox Vaccine Sign-up form in Spanish, visit ughealth.info/viruelamono.

Please note that people who have been exposed to a confirmed case of Monkeypox will be contacted by their state health department and given special instructions on where and how to receive the vaccine.

About Monkeypox

• Cases in Kansas and the U.S.: The first cases of monkeypox in the current U.S. outbreak were reported in May 2022. This current outbreak continues to evolve, as public health agencies monitor the spread of monkeypox and learn more about the situation. Data updated October 3, 2022, shows that there have been 21 cases in the state of Kansas and 26,049 cases in the United States.
  
  

• How monkeypox spreads: People usually get monkeypox through close personal contact, especially through sexual contact with someone who has symptoms. In a few cases, monkeypox can spread through prolonged, face-to-face contact or through contact with contaminated surfaces such as clothing or linens.
  
  
• Monkeypox symptoms: Monkeypox usually involves a blister-like rash, which can be itchy or painful and can cause scarring. Monkeypox symptoms may also include flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle aches and backache, headache and respiratory symptoms such as sore throat, nasal congestion or cough. Monkeypox symptoms usually start within 3 weeks of exposure to the virus.
  
  
• Testing for Monkeypox: Currently, monkeypox testing is only available in certain circumstances. An individual must have symptoms and be examined by a healthcare provider to see if they are eligible for testing. People who have symptoms such as a new or unexplained rash that they think might be monkeypox should contact their healthcare provider. People in Wyandotte County can also call the UGPHD at (913) 573-6716 and leave a message. UGPHD staff will follow up.
  
  
• Serious illness from monkeypox: The strain of monkeypox in the current outbreak is rarely fatal, and most people have mild to moderate illness. However, serious illness or death from monkeypox can happen. Some individuals are at higher risk for serious illness or death if they get monkeypox, including people who are immunocompromised*, children under 8 years of age, people with a history of eczema, and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • *During the current outbreak, the CDC has reported severe cases of monkeypox among people who are immunocompromised (people who have weakened immune systems) due to HIV, another health condition, or as a result of treatment for certain health conditions.
    
    

Learn more about monkeypox on the UGPHD’s Alerts page at: ughealth.info/monkeypox