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Monkeypox spreads by more than just sexual contact

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INFORMATION NOW MINDY. WELL LADIES BY NOW. MOST PEOPLE HAVE HEARD OF MONKEYPOX, RIGHT AND THEY MAY HAVE SEEN THE IMAGES OF THE SKIN LESIONS THAT IT CAUSES. BUT HOW MUCH DO YOU REALLY KNOW ABOUT THE DISEASE AND HOW YOU CATCH IT? I DON’T FEEL THERE’S ENOUGH INFORMATION OUT THERE. I THINK THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON COVID. AND THAT’S UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ALSO BE LOOKING AT MONKEYPOX NOW, TOO. A LITTLE BIT MORE. I DON’T REALLY KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT IT. I KNOW THERE’S SOME VACCINES BECOMING AVAILABLE, BUT THAT’S ALL I PRETTY MUCH KNOW. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT THOSE AT HIGH RISK INCLUDE GAY MEN TRANSGENDER WOMEN SEX WORKERS, BUT IT’S NOT NECESSARILY A SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE. ALL YOU NEED IS CLOSE PROLONGED CONTACT WITH AN INFECTED PERSON WHEN WE SAY PROLONGED I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW MORE THAN 15 MINUTES OF PROLONGED EXPOSURE. I’M A DEER IS A NURSE PRACTITIONER AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT AT CHASE BREXTON HEALTH CARE. HE SAYS MONKEY POX’S TRANSMITTED NOT JUST BY HAVING SEX, BUT BY KISSING OR HUGGING EVEN CLOSE FACE TO FACE CONTACT. PERHAPS MORE CONCERNING IT CAN LIVE ON SURFACES UP TO 15 HOURS IF SOMEBODY WHO’S INFECTED HAS TOUCHED SURFACES OR SHEETS CLOTHING IF SOMEBODY’S USING THE SAME CLOTHING OR SHEETS, FOR EXAMPLE, IT CAN GET MONKEYPOX VIRUS OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE EVERY DAY THINGS LIKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BUSES TRAINS AND PLANES JIMMY QUIPMENT. YES SCHOOL DESKS NURSE PRACTITIONER DEER SAYS IT’S TIME TO ONCE AGAIN EMPHASIZE HYGIENE DISINFECTING. SURFACES IN WASHING HANDS, ESPECIALLY UNTIL MORE VACCINE IS AVAILABLE. IT’S JUST HEARING FROM OTHER COLLEAGUES. PEOPLE ARE MESSAGING CALLING AND TO GET THE VACCINATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. YEAH. YEAH, WE NEED MORE VACCINE IS THIS RIGHT? OH, ABSOLUTELY AND WE ARE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB GETTING THOSE VACCINES CDC REALLY NEED TO STEP IT UP. AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER BALTIMORE CITY WILL BE ADMINISTERING MORE VACCINES ON FRIDAY. THEY ARE FOR THOSE AT HIGH RISK OR THOSE WHO HAVE COMING CLOSE CONTACT WITH MONKEYPOX REGISTRATION BEGINS TOMORROW AT 9. AM IT’S ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS THE NUMBERS TO CALL THERE ON YOUR SCREEN FOR THE EASTERN OFFICE FOR 10 3 9 6 9 4 1 0 AND FOR THE DRUID OFFICE. THE NUMBER IS 410 396 ZERO ONE SEVEN SIX IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE RESPONSE IS AND IT WILL THERE BE A BIG DEMAND. YEAH, I THINK SO, TOO, BUT JUST TO CLARIFY IT IS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE FATAL. CORRECT. THAT IS CORRECT. THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS IN THIS FORTUNATELY THIS STRAIN THE ONE THAT IS CURRENTLY SO CONTAGIOUS OR APPEARS TO BE CONTAGIOUS IS NOT FATAL. SO THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS HERE. THERE IS ANOTHER STRING OF MONKEYPOX. THAT ISN’T SPREADING THAT IS MUCH MORE SERIOUS.

Monkeypox isn’t just transmitted by sexual contact. See how you could be at risk

Virus isn’t limited to just high-risk people

Updated: 5:40 PM EDT Aug 3, 2022

By now, most people have heard of monkeypox and seen images of the skin lesions it causes. But it seems fewer people know how the virus spreads.”I don’t feel there is enough information out there,” said Rhonda Vanrokel. “I think the focus has been on COVID, and that’s understandable, but I think we should also be looking at monkeypox now, too, a little bit more.””I don’t know that much about it. I know there are some vaccines becoming available, but that’s all I pretty much know,” said Dianna Bevensee.There are currently more than 6,300 cases of monkeypox nationwide with 149 in Maryland. This strain of monkeypox does not appear to be fatal. There are two strains of monkeypox, but the one that’s spreading now does not appear to be deadly.Some people have heard that those at high risk for monkeypox include gay men, transgender women and sex workers. But it’s not necessarily a sexually transmitted disease. All that’s needed to get the virus is close, prolonged contact with an infected person.| LINK: Maryland Department of Health monkeypox information”We say prolonged, I would say, more than 15 minutes of prolonged exposure,” said Amit Dhir, a nurse practitioner and infectious disease expert at Chase Brexton Health Services in Baltimore.Dhir said monkeypox is transmitted not just by having sex, but by kissing or hugging, even close face-to-face contact. Perhaps more concerning is it can live on surfaces for up 15 hours.”Somebody who’s infected (who) has touched surfaces or sheets, clothing, using the same clothing or sheets, for example, can get the monkeypox virus,” Dhir said.Other surfaces include everyday things, like public transportation — buses, trains and planes — gym equipment and school desks.Dhir said it’s time to once again emphasize hygiene, disinfecting surfaces and washing hands, especially until more vaccine becomes available.”(I’m) just hearing from colleagues, people are messaging, calling to get the vaccination as soon as possible,” Dhir said. “We are not doing a good job getting those vaccines. (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) really needs to step up.”The Baltimore City Health Department is offering another round of vaccines on Friday for those at high risk and those who have had contact with an infected person. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Thursday, and it’s on a first-come, first-served basis. For the eastern office, call 410-396-9410, and for the Druid office, the number is 410-396-0176.Monkeypox vaccine in MarylandTo date, the state said the federal government has allocated to MDH enough doses to vaccinate 3,202 patients with the two-dose Jynneos vaccine.Vaccine supply from the federal government remains limited, and additional supply may not be available until the fall.Based on CDC guidelines, state and local health officials are prioritizing vaccination courses for:Public health identified close contacts: Known close contacts who are identified by public health via case investigation, contact tracing, and risk exposure assessments.Occupational exposure: Health care workers who may have been exposed to a known case and Laboratory Response Network (LRN) or other laboratory staff working directly with monkeypox testing.In addition, state and local health officials will follow CDC guidelines to make vaccines available to the following categories of individuals based on supply:Self-identified partners of cases: Individuals who are aware that one of their sexual partners from the past two weeks has been diagnosed with monkeypox.Affected community members: Individuals in high-risk populations who report any of the following in the past two weeks:Recent group sex or sex with multiple partners.Sex or employment at a venue or in association with an event, venue, or defined geographic area where monkeypox transmission has been reported.The most doses have been made available to jurisdictions that report the highest incidence of known cases and exposures, the state said. Individuals who believe they are eligible for vaccination should contact their local health department.Monkeypox testing in MarylandTesting for monkeypox is available through commercial labs and the MDH state public health laboratory. It is not available to purchase off store shelves.Anyone who believes they were exposed to monkeypox or have an illness that could be monkeypox should contact their medical provider.People without a provider or insurance should visit the MDH website to find contact information for their local health department. Health care providers should educate patients on home isolation while results are pending.MDH and local health departments are conducting contact tracing for all presumed cases. Individuals identified as having close contact with case patients have been offered vaccination through their local health department, in accordance with CDC guidelines.

BALTIMORE —

By now, most people have heard of monkeypox and seen images of the skin lesions it causes. But it seems fewer people know how the virus spreads.

“I don’t feel there is enough information out there,” said Rhonda Vanrokel. “I think the focus has been on COVID, and that’s understandable, but I think we should also be looking at monkeypox now, too, a little bit more.”

“I don’t know that much about it. I know there are some vaccines becoming available, but that’s all I pretty much know,” said Dianna Bevensee.

There are currently more than 6,300 cases of monkeypox nationwide with 149 in Maryland. This strain of monkeypox does not appear to be fatal. There are two strains of monkeypox, but the one that’s spreading now does not appear to be deadly.

Some people have heard that those at high risk for monkeypox include gay men, transgender women and sex workers. But it’s not necessarily a sexually transmitted disease. All that’s needed to get the virus is close, prolonged contact with an infected person.

| LINK: Maryland Department of Health monkeypox information

“We say prolonged, I would say, more than 15 minutes of prolonged exposure,” said Amit Dhir, a nurse practitioner and infectious disease expert at Chase Brexton Health Services in Baltimore.

Dhir said monkeypox is transmitted not just by having sex, but by kissing or hugging, even close face-to-face contact. Perhaps more concerning is it can live on surfaces for up 15 hours.

“Somebody who’s infected (who) has touched surfaces or sheets, clothing, using the same clothing or sheets, for example, can get the monkeypox virus,” Dhir said.

Other surfaces include everyday things, like public transportation — buses, trains and planes — gym equipment and school desks.

Dhir said it’s time to once again emphasize hygiene, disinfecting surfaces and washing hands, especially until more vaccine becomes available.

“(I’m) just hearing from colleagues, people are messaging, calling to get the vaccination as soon as possible,” Dhir said. “We are not doing a good job getting those vaccines. (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) really needs to step up.”

The Baltimore City Health Department is offering another round of vaccines on Friday for those at high risk and those who have had contact with an infected person. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Thursday, and it’s on a first-come, first-served basis. For the eastern office, call 410-396-9410, and for the Druid office, the number is 410-396-0176.

Monkeypox vaccine in Maryland

To date, the state said the federal government has allocated to MDH enough doses to vaccinate 3,202 patients with the two-dose Jynneos vaccine.

Vaccine supply from the federal government remains limited, and additional supply may not be available until the fall.

Based on CDC guidelines, state and local health officials are prioritizing vaccination courses for:

  • Public health identified close contacts: Known close contacts who are identified by public health via case investigation, contact tracing, and risk exposure assessments.
  • Occupational exposure: Health care workers who may have been exposed to a known case and Laboratory Response Network (LRN) or other laboratory staff working directly with monkeypox testing.

In addition, state and local health officials will follow CDC guidelines to make vaccines available to the following categories of individuals based on supply:

  • Self-identified partners of cases: Individuals who are aware that one of their sexual partners from the past two weeks has been diagnosed with monkeypox.
  • Affected community members: Individuals in high-risk populations who report any of the following in the past two weeks:
    • Recent group sex or sex with multiple partners.
    • Sex or employment at a venue or in association with an event, venue, or defined geographic area where monkeypox transmission has been reported.

The most doses have been made available to jurisdictions that report the highest incidence of known cases and exposures, the state said. Individuals who believe they are eligible for vaccination should contact their local health department.

Monkeypox testing in Maryland

Testing for monkeypox is available through commercial labs and the MDH state public health laboratory. It is not available to purchase off store shelves.

Anyone who believes they were exposed to monkeypox or have an illness that could be monkeypox should contact their medical provider.

People without a provider or insurance should visit the MDH website to find contact information for their local health department. Health care providers should educate patients on home isolation while results are pending.

MDH and local health departments are conducting contact tracing for all presumed cases. Individuals identified as having close contact with case patients have been offered vaccination through their local health department, in accordance with CDC guidelines.

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Originally Appeared Here