Chris Van Deusen with the Texas Department of State Health Services says there are over 180 cases of Monkeypox they know of, it's rising steadily and testing is ongoing.
It's circulating in the gay community but he says doctors are seeing cases crop up outside that population.
Monkeypox, which is endemic in Africa, is spread through skin to skin contact but not necessarily through sex. "Just through hugging and kissing, being around someone in a family environment and touching them without some sort of barrier, that's really what the risk factor is."
They have not seen it spread through respiratory droplets. "We've been monitoring people who have been sitting around people with monkeypox on airplanes. We have not seen it transmitted in a healthcare setting through doctors and nurses caring for people with monkeypox."
The state has been allotted, for now, 20,000 doses of monkeypox vaccine. It's slowly arriving.Local health departments are also making requests.
The vaccine will keep you from getting infected even if you've been exposed to the virus and before you get symptoms. "That's what we're really focusing on in trying to get people vaccinated who have been exposed. We have such a limited supply of it, we want to make sure it's available for people in that situation. If you've been exposed, if someone you've been around had monkeypox, go to the doctor and get assessed and get vaccinated before you get symptoms. Hopefully that will help you from getting sick and prevent you from spreading it to someone else."
Having had a smallpox vaccine can provide some protection, the level of which may depend on how long ago you were immunized. They are related viruses.
This isn't the first time there's been a monkeypox outbreak in the US. In 2003, infected African rodents were imported and housed with prairie dogs. The prairie dogs became infected and passed it on to some 70 people who got them as pets.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow NewsRadio 1080 KRLD