AUGUST 4, 2022 -- Monkeypox is in the news. A total of 44 cases have been reported in Minnesota as of August 4, 2022.
Monkeypox vaccine is limited in Minnesota. Minnesota Department of Health is prioritizing people at highest risk for severe disease and those most likely to have been exposed. Vaccine is for people 18 and older with specific risk factors, including: exposure in the past 14 days to someone with monkeypox; more than one sex partner in the past 14 days; men who have sex with men and have HIV or other immune-compromising condition. Minnesota providers with access to vaccine are reaching out to their patients who meet these eligibility criteria and offering vaccine.
NH+C does not have monkeypox vaccine. If you think you qualify, watch for information from MDH on its website.
Monkeypox spreads through skin-to-skin or close contact:
Close intimate contact such as kissing, hugging, or sex Respiratory droplets or fluids Direct contact with the rash Contact with clothing, bedding, objects used by an infected personSymptoms include:
Rash that looks like pimples or blisters Fever or chills Swollen lymph nodes Headache Fatigue Body achesSymptoms develop about 12 days after exposure (range is 5-20 days). Illness can last as long as 3-4 weeks. Most people do not have serious complications.
If you have a new rash or other symptoms, avoid close contact – including sex or being intimate with anyone – until you have been checked out by a healthcare provider.
To prevent monkeypox:
Limit your number of sex partners. Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox. Don’t touch bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox Wash your hands often with soap and waterLearn more about monkeypox from the Centers for Disease Control.