Confirmed case of monkeypox in Grant County

There is a confirmed case of the Monkeypox Virus (MPV) in Grant County.

The Grant County Health District said Sept. 13 that they are investigating the case. 

“The patient is in good health and is currently in home quarantine,” the release states. “GCHD is working to identify others who may have been exposed. To date, no one who was exposed is considered a possible positive case. Depending on the situation, people who had close or intimate exposure to a person with monkeypox might be advised to get a vaccine for monkeypox. Because of this, it is important to identify people who were exposed.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MPV is rarely fatal, and brief interactions with someone with MPV that do not involve physical contact are not considered high risk exposures.

Symptoms of MPV may include fever, headache, muscle aches, respiratory symptoms, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on other body parts, the health district’s press release states.

“The virus is spread person-to-person from direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids, respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, during intimate physical contact such as kissing, cuddling, or sex, and touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids. … Pregnant people can spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta.”

According to the Washington State Department of Health, as of September 13, 503 people have tested positive for orthopoxvirus, which is the family of viruses that include MPV.

According to the DOH, the limited doses of MPV vaccine will be used to vaccinate high- and intermediate-risk close contacts of confirmed and probable MPV cases. Treatment with antivirals, as well as vaccinations, will be available through local healthcare providers.

For more information regarding MPV, including what to do if you have symptoms, visit http://www.doh.wa.gov. Additional information is also available via the CDC at http://www.cdc.gov.