Monkeypox reported in Olmsted County
Olmsted County Public Health Services (OCPHS) reported monkeypox virus infection in the county on August 22, 2022. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Public Health Laboratory completed initial testing.
Olmsted County is conducting contact tracing with support from MDH to identify anyone at risk due to direct contact with the patient while infectious. In collaboration with MDH, OCPHS asks those people who are identified as close contacts to watch for symptoms of illness.
The virus does not easily spread between people with casual contact. Transmission can occur through contact with infectious sores and bodily fluids, contaminated items, such as clothing or bedding, or respiratory droplets associated with prolonged face-to-face contact.
“While the threat of monkeypox is generally low, we’re taking this case seriously and working diligently to prevent the spread of illness,” said OCPHS Director Denise Daniels. “We will continue to coordinate with our state and local partners to monitor the situation closely.”
As of August 25, 2022, MDH reports 108 cases of monkeypox/orthopoxvirus. Minnesotans can keep track of cases in their counties on the MDH website.
Monkeypox transmission requires close and prolonged contact. Risk factors include:
- Close contact.
- Sustained skin-to-skin contact with a person with monkeypox, including sexual contact.
- Contact with contaminated items.
Monkeypox symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that can look like pimples or blisters. Some individuals have only had a rash and no other symptoms. The rash can occur in the mouth, on the face, or on other body parts. There may also be sores in the genital and anal areas.
The illness typically lasts two to four weeks, and most people get better on their own without treatment. However, sometimes monkeypox can cause scars from the sores, lead to pneumonia, and in rare cases, even be fatal. People with monkeypox can spread the virus from when symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed.
To prevent the spread of monkeypox:
- Practice good hand hygiene like washing your hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Minimize skin-to-skin contact with individuals exposed to the virus or those showing a rash or skin sores.
- Avoid contact with materials, such as bedding, that have been in direct contact with someone with monkeypox.
- Reach out to a health care provider if you develop symptoms, as early recognition and testing can help prevent further transmission.
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Media Contact: Emma Diercks, Communications Specialist, 507-328-6166