Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Monkeypox has made it to Davie County, with the first case being reported last week by Davie Health & Human Services.

The Division of Public Health staff is conducting case investigations which include contact tracing to identify close contacts who may benefit from vaccination, according to a news release.

To protect the individuals’ privacy, the department is releasing no further information.

Who is at Risk?

Anyone can get monkeypox, although a majority of the individuals recently diagnosed with monkeypox self-identify as being men who have sex with other men. The virus is transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact with someone with the infection, touching objects (clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids, and respiratory secretions during prolonged intimate physical contact.

The virus enters the body through broken skin, or mucus membranes such as the eyes, nose, mouth or genitals. The virus does not spread exclusively through any one gender, sexual, or social network.

What are the Symptoms?

The disease typically begins with early flu-like symptoms of fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and exhaustion followed a few days later by a rash. In some recent cases, the rash has appeared before or at the same time as the flu-like symptoms. The monkeypox rash often begins on the face, then spreads to other parts of the body which can include the palms of the hand and soles of the feet. The rash may be painful and itchy, and will go through several stages before healing, including scabs. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks and is rarely fatal.

What Should You Do?

• If you have a new or unexplained rash, see your healthcare provider and avoid having close or intimate contact with anyone until you have been checked out. If you do not have a provider, call your local health department (www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/county-health-departments).

• If you have come into contact with someone who has a new or unexplained rash, notify your health care provider or your local health department.

• If someone you live with is diagnosed with monkeypox, there are household precautions you can take to prevent the spread of the virus. See here for more information: Interim Guidance for Household Disinfection of Monkeypox Virus (www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/pdf/monkeypox-interimguidancefor-household-disinfection-508.pdf).