Shelby County reports first case of monkeypox
This 2003 electron microscope image shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right. (Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner/CDC via AP file)
Shelby County reported its first confirmed case of monkeypox on Monday, July 25, marking the 18th reported case in Tennessee.
Most cases have been in Davidson County, and the latest case brings the total number of cases across the nation to 3,487, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This rare disease — in the same family of viruses as smallpox — is spread through close, direct contact, such as direct contact of infectious rash, scabs or body fluids; respiratory secretions during prolonged face-to-face contact or during intimate physical contact; and touching items, such as clothing or linens, that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids.
Pregnant individuals can also spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta.
Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches and exhaustion that occur before a rash develops.
Many of the cases associated with this outbreak have reported very mild or no symptoms other than a rash.
The virus can be transmitted from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. Only those who are symptomatic can spread the virus.
It can take as long as three weeks after exposure for symptoms to develop.
Most people recover within two to four weeks. However, the disease can be serious in rare instances, particularly for immunocompromised individuals, children and those who are pregnant.
Monkeypox symptoms include new rashes characterized by sores, bumps or fluid-filled bumps.
SCHD says an effective vaccine against monkeypox is available, but there’s currently no recommendation for the vaccine and it’s currently not available to the general public.
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monkeypox CDC Shelby County Health DepartmentAisling Mäki
Aisling Mäki covers health care, banking and finance, technology and professions. After launching her career in news two decades ago, she worked in public relations for almost a decade before returning to journalism in 2022.
As a health care reporter, she’s collaborated with The Carter Center, earned awards from the Associated Press and Society of Professional Journalists and won a 2024 Tennessee Press Association first-place prize for her series on discrepancies in Shelby County life expectancy by ZIP code.
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