NEW JERSEY — Has monkeypox been detected in your county? With the state’s case total up to 175 as of Wednesday morning, the New Jersey Department of Health released county-level case data on the outbreak.
State officials have identified the most cases in the following areas: Hudson County (61 cases), Essex County (35) and Bergen County (23). All three counties are right by New York City, which reported 1,558 cases as of Wednesday.
Eight New Jersey counties have no reported monkeypox cases — the westernmost areas up north (Sussex, Warren and Hunterdon) and the five southernmost counties (Gloucester, Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem).
Find out what’s happening in Across New Jerseywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
But that doesn’t mean the virus hasn’t hit those counties, since the figures don’t account for people who haven’t gotten tested. Testing availability is also limited to people with certain risk factors, symptoms or “strong clinical suspicion” that a patient may have the disease. People who think they have been exposed to monkeypox or have symptoms of the disease should still consult with a health care provider.
Here’s the breakdown of cases by county as of Wednesday morning:
Find out what’s happening in Across New Jerseywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
(New Jersey Department of Health)
Global Outbreak Hits 25K Cases
The World Health Organization declared monkeypox a “global health emergency” on July 23. The global outbreak — first detected in May — has brought 25,391 cases to 83 nations, including 6,325 in the United States as of Wednesday, according to the CDC.
Symptoms generally start one to two weeks after exposure but in some cases may not appear for up to 21 days. Monkeypox symptoms can include the following, according to the New Jersey Department of Health
- A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth and on other parts of the body such as the hands, feet, chest, genitals or anus
- fever
- headache
- muscle aches and backache
- swollen lymph nodes
- chills
- feeling very tired
The CDC recommends that people with monkeypox isolate until all lesions have resolved, the scabs have fallen off and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed. This usually takes 2 to 4 weeks — a longer period than New Jersey’s minimum requirements for earned sick leave.
How It Spreads
The virus can spread in the following ways, according to the New York City Department of Health:
- direct contact with a rash or sores of someone who has the virus
- contact with clothing, bedding and other items used by a person with monkeypox
- prolonged face-to-face contact
Many of the cases in the outbreak have spread through sexual activity and other types of intimate contact, such as hugging, kissing and cuddling, according to New York City health officials. Experts are currently studying whether the virus can also spread through semen, saliva, feces and other bodily fluids.
Monkeypox is currently not considered a sexually transmitted infection. Health officials have pointed to cases in men who have sex with men, but monkeypox can spread from direct contact with any affected individual.
Several LGBTQ organizations have criticized the public-health messaging and media coverage of monkeypox that has put the spotlight on their community, drawing parallels to homophobic and incorrect public-health information that circulated during the emergence of AIDS.
“As we saw with HIV, COVID-19, and now MPV (monkeypox), discrimination, disinformation, racism and systemic breakdowns in the health care system continue to challenge LGBTQ Americans’ health as well as public health and safety, especially for LGBTQ people of color,” said DaShawn Usher, GLAAD’s director for communities of color. “All people are susceptible to MPV, but it showed up early in LGBTQ communities, resulting in additional stigma for us. We must keep our community safe and informed.”
Along with isolation, the CDC advises people who test positive to do the following:
- Stay home except as required for emergencies or follow-up medical care.
- If possible, use a separate bathroom if there are others who live in the same household.
- Wear a well-fitting mask or respirator if you need to be around other people in the home.
- Routinely clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces using an EPA-registered disinfectant.
- Wash hands with soap and water, and use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Abstain from all sexual activity.
- Avoid close contact with other people and pets in the home.
- Avoid shaving areas of the body with blisters or legions to prevent the spread of the virus.
About The Vaccines
The following people in New Jersey are eligible for the JYNNEOS vaccine for monkeypox:
- People who have known contact with someone who tested positive for orthopoxvirus or monkeypox virus within past 14 days (contact your local health department to coordinate vaccination).
- People who attended an event where known monkeypox exposure occurred within 14 days (make an appointment at a vaccine location)
- gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming, nonbinary individuals and men who have sex with men
- who also have had multiple sex partners or at least one anonymous sex partner within the past 14 days (make an appointment at a vaccine location)
New Jersey expects additional vaccine doses from the CDC in the coming days and will continue to expand access to vaccination, according to the state health department.
Vaccines are available by appointment only through the following community partners:
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
Location: Annex 2 (white tent structure), 230 East Ridgewood Ave, Paramus
Phone: 800-730-2762
Schedule an appointment: www.newbridgehealth.org
Cooper Vaccine & Testing Clinic, Cooper University Hospital
Location: 300 Broadway, Camden
Phone: 856-968-7100
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Website: https://my.cooperhealth.org/mychart/authentication/login
Hyacinth AIDS Foundation/Project Living Out Loud!
Location: Jersey City
Phone: 201-706-3480
The Prevention Resource Network, a program of the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey
Location: Asbury Park
Phone: 732-502-5100
North Jersey Community Research Initiative (NJCRI)
Location: Newark
Phone: 973-483-3444 ext. 200
Check with your local health department or visit this page for updates on vaccination.
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