Q&A: Over 30 cases of monkeypox have been identified in the U.S. Is it coming to Idaho?
A worldwide disease outbreak has spread to the U.S. and could soon appear in Idaho.
But the unusual disease — which has not yet been found in Idaho — is not a high risk, according to a top state health official.
Where has monkeypox spread?
Monkeypox, a disease that first appeared in humans in Africa, has spread widely this year, with cases in 23 countries outside of the continent, according to the World Health Organization.
In the U.S., cases have so far been reported in 12 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two cases have been reported in Utah, and one has been reported in Washington.
Idaho has no cases identified and no reports under investigation, said a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Welfare on Monday.
How is it transmitted?
The disease spreads by close skin-to-skin contact, and does not appear to be transmitted as easily as influenza or COVID-19.
“For most Idahoans, it’s not a high risk. It’s just something they should be aware of,” Dr. Christine Hahn, Idaho’s state epidemiologist, told the Idaho Statesman.
So far, many of the reported cases have spread through sexual contact, but that is not the only way it can spread, Hahn said. General sexual health precautions, like using condoms, washing hands or showering after close touching, could help prevent spread. The CDC also recommends that travelers wear masks.
What are the symptoms?
The disease’s trademark is a rash that develops on the body along with other symptoms, including fever, headache, muscle aches and swollen lymph nodes, according to the CDC. For most people, the disease causes mild illness.
If Idahoans develop a rash after sexual contact, or are in close contact with someone who develops a rash, they should seek medical attention, Hahn said. After transmission, it usually takes one to two weeks for symptoms to develop, she added.
Have there been outbreaks before?
The virus was first identified – and got its name – after being discovered in a colony of monkeys in the 1950s, according to the CDC.
While Monkeypox is endemic to several countries in Africa, outbreaks outside of the continent — including in the U.S. — have occurred before. In 2003, 47 confirmed and probable cases were reported in the U.S., after people had contact with prairie dogs that had been infected, according to the CDC.
But this year’s outbreak is still noteworthy.
“This is a little bit unusual,” Hahn said, noting that the disease is being studied to see if any particular developments are causing the recent rash of cases.
“(Has this) virus really changed, or did this just get into a population where there is skin-to-skin contact, and it hasn’t been controlled yet?” Hahn said.
Monkeypox was first discovered in a person in 1970.
“It’s so rare that there’s a lot I think we don’t know about this virus yet,” Hahn said.
Like coronaviruses and many other diseases, monkeypox outbreaks are usually “surmised” to have jumped from animal populations to humans, Hahn said.
What should Idahoans expect?
New diseases frequently crop up, and it’s rare for them to become pandemics, Hahn said.
Cases could arise in Idaho, though Hahn hopes that if people who are infected get evaluated quickly, it won’t spread further.
Hahn said she is most concerned about people with damaged or suppressed immune systems, as well as pregnant women.
Are there treatments available?
An antiviral drug can treat symptoms of the disease, and the smallpox vaccine has been shown to be helpful. While some Americans have received the vaccine, its use in the U.S. was largely stopped in 1972, when the disease was eradicated.
People with potential infections can be treated at the Idaho Bureau of Laboratories, with results available within a day, Hahn said, adding that the disease is not currently a major cause for concern.
“For right now … people should be able to go about their normal lives,” Hahn said.
This story was originally published June 7, 2022 at 10:39 AM.
