Eastern Jackson County reports first monkeypox case, health officials announce
The first “probable” case of monkeypox in eastern Jackson County was reported Wednesday by the Jackson County Health Department.
This news comes several weeks after the first case of the infection in Jackson County, in Kansas City, was reported in mid-June. It was also the first case in Missouri. On July 9, Johnson County reported its first case, which was also the first report of the infection in Kansas.
As of Tuesday, there are at least 24 monkeypox cases in Missouri, and three in Kansas. At least four of those cases are in Kansas City.
Based on the eastern Jackson County individual’s symptoms and initial testing, it’s presumed to be a monkeypox infection, Jackson County Health Department Director Bridgette Shaffer said in a news release Wednesday. Final test results from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are pending.
The health department communicated with everyone who may have been in contact with the infected person, and health officials offered them post-exposure vaccinations to help prevent the disease from spreading, according to the release.
“The threat to Eastern Jackson County residents is low at this time,” Shaffer said Wednesday.
Who can get monkeypox vaccine in Kansas City? More people qualify, but supply is limited
Monkeypox does not spread as easily as the coronavirus in public settings.
The virus can be transmitted to anyone through close physical contact with body fluids, contaminated items or monkeypox sores, which can look like a rash. Swollen lymph nodes and other flu-like symptoms are also common. Infection is rare and potentially severe, often lasting between two and four weeks, according to the CDC.
Anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms such as a fever, swollen lymph nodes or fatigue, or who has a rash is urged to reach out to their healthcare provider or local health department.
If someone thinks they may have been exposed to monkeypox, they are asked to call the health department at 816-404-9898. They may be able to get a post-exposure vaccination.
The vaccine supply is extremely limited in Missouri and Kansas, and only those who are connected to existing cases or are most at-risk are eligible to receive preventative vaccines.
So far during this outbreak, monkeypox is disproportionately affecting gay and bisexual men and their social networks, and people in these communities are the first eligible for the small number of available vaccines. You can call your health care provider or local health department to see if you qualify.
About 12,689 monkeypox cases have been confirmed in the United States as of Tuesday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Star’s Kynala Phillips contributed to this report.
