Monkeypox is now here in Mississippi. What to know about the state’s first case
The Mississippi Department of Health reported the state’s first confirmed case of monkeypox this week.
Department officials declined the release of the exact county and location of the patient, but said the rare viral disease was contracted outside of the U.S.
“That’s not really relevant,” said Liz Sharlot, spokesperson for MSDH, when asked about the patient’s whereabouts. “We’ve had several suspected cases, but Monday was the first confirmed case.”
Monkeypox is spread through close personal contact, including skin-to-skin. While MSDH reported many of the cases in the current outbreak have occurred among men who had sex with men, officials stressed anyone could contract monkeypox.
“Monkeypox is a public concern that we all need to be aware of. Anybody can get monkeypox who is exposed to it,” said State Epidemiologist Paul Byers. “Monkeypox is a viral disease that transmits through an infected person. The incubation period is usually two weeks.”
Byers said the disease can be spread through prolonged contact with an infected person or skin-to-skin contact with the infected person’s rash. Towels, clothing and bedding that have touched the rash can also be spreading agents.
Respiratory droplets from face-to-face contact can spread the disease.
This contact can happen during any intimate sexual contact:
Oral, anal, and vaginal sex
Hugging, massage, or touching any body part with monkeypox sores
Kissing and talking closely
Touching fabrics and objects used by a person with monkeypox, such as bedding, towels or surfaces that have come into contact with them
“The best way to prevent it is to avoid close contact,” Byers said. “Don’t share linens or towels.”
“It is likely that we will see additional cases of monkeypox in this state.
MSDH officials said monkeypox does not spread easily without close contact, but those who contract the disease will be asked to quarantine until the rash clears and incubation ends. Healing can take several weeks.
Monkeypox can be spread to others from the start of symptoms to the healing of all sores once a fresh layer of skin has formed.
Early symptoms of monkeypox are usually flu-like:
Fever
Headache
Muscle aches and backache
Swollen lymph nodes
Chills
Exhaustion
Other symptoms usually develop a few days later:
A rash or sores, sometimes located on or near the genitals or anus, but sometimes in other areas such as the hands, feet, chest or face. These sores will go through several stages before healing.
Sores may be inside the body, including the mouth, vagina, or anus.
Note: Some people experience a rash or sores first, followed by other symptoms and some only experience a rash or sores.
The U.S.’s confirmed case count
According to the Center for Disease Control, the U.S. has had 3,591 confirmed cases as of Tuesday and only four states — Alaska, Montana, Wyoming and Vermont — have had no confirmed cases.
Here in the South, the virus has taken a stronghold on Texas, Georgia and Florida with 223, 289 and 309 confirmed cases respectively. Louisiana has confirmed 26 cases and Tennessee has had 20.
The outbreak’s first confirmed case was reported May 17.
This story was originally published July 27, 2022 at 12:12 PM.
