We now know where SC’s monkeypox cases are. Here’s what to know about exposure, vaccines
South Carolina now has 23 monkeypox cases spread across the Midlands, Lowcountry and Upstate, the state health department said Wednesday.
The only part of the state still spared from the virus is the Pee Dee and Myrtle Beach area.
The location data came as part of a briefing by South Carolina’s state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell Wednesday afternoon. Bell shared details from the state Department of Health and Environmental Control about exposures, vaccines, seeking treatment and what to do after testing positive.
Who is most at risk and what to do if exposed
Here’s what to know about risk of exposure to monkeypox.
The primary way of catching the virus is through prolonged skin-to-skin or face-to-face contact with someone who has the virus, particularly if they have open sores or lesions from the virus.
The virus can also spread through the air but only after a long exposure over several hours. Being in an elevator, for example, would likely not spread the virus.
Right now, the people most at risk for catching the virus are those who have been near a confirmed positive case and members of the gay, trans, queer and gender-nonconforming communities who have sex with men because the majority of cases have been within that demographic group.
However, Bell urged the public to remember that there is “no such thing as a gay disease” and that anyone is at risk of catching the virus if they are exposed to someone who has it.
Be careful around pets: Bell recommended anyone who has tested positive for the virus or thinks they might have it should not only isolate from other people, but pets as well. Monkeypox did originate from exposure to animals in rain forests and could possibly spread back to them from humans.
Who is eligible for the vaccine and how many are available?
There are two criteria for vaccine eligibility.
People who have had a confirmed contact with a positive case of the virus
Adult (18+) gay, trans, queer and gender-nonconforming people who have sex with other men and have had multiple sexual partners in the last 14 days.
So far, South Carolina has received at least 1,500 doses of the vaccine, and the federal government has allocated another 5,200 doses to the state. Bell said the state health department is finishing its application to the federal government so it can formally receive those doses in the coming weeks.
The vaccine, Jynneos, requires a two-dose regimen to achieve peak efficacy. However, due to limited availability, the second dose might not be given on the usual schedule — 28 days after the first dose.
Because there has been relatively low demand for the vaccine at the moment, the health department is scheduling appointments for the second dose. If doses become scarce before someone’s second vaccine appointment, that dose will be pushed out as long as possible while keeping with the guidelines for ensuring the highest level of efficacy.
Even with only one shot, the vaccine is effective at preventing infection even after exposure to the virus, a quality known as post-exposure prophylaxis.
The low demand for the vaccine in South Carolina stands in stark contrast to North Carolina, where in Charlotte, the local health department has a waiting list of thousands of people who have requested a shot.
When asked if people from other states would be allowed to get a vaccine in South Carolina, Bell said if the person is in South Carolina and meets the eligibility requirements, they would be given a vaccine or treatment as necessary.
“This is the public health effort to prevent spread wherever it occurs,” Bell said. “We’re not as much focused on who’s the resident of where. We want to make sure that the vaccine is readily available.”
Testing and treatment availability
Bell said the state has plenty of capacity to test for the virus and does not foresee a shortage in testing capacity at the moment.
One hiccup could affect testing: the virus frequently starts out with flu-like symptoms before the rash and sores develop. At the stage before the rash appears, a test cannot be run because current tests require one of the pox sores to be swabbed.
Treatments, like vaccines, are also limited and will likely be saved for more severe cases of the virus. However, just a couple of the confirmed cases of the virus have been resulted in hospitalizations so far, Bell said.
Anyone with concerns that they are at risk or might have been exposed can call the state health department’s CARE line, 1-855-472-3432, for more information and to make an appointment. Another option is to call your primary care physician or local doctor’s office and they can provide support, as well.
