BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – A case of monkeypox has been confirmed to be in Warren County.
As of Wednesday morning, Kentucky has reported six cases of monkeypox.
Susan Dunlap, Executive Director of Public Affairs for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, confirmed in an e-mail that one of the six cases was in Warren County. The other five are in Jefferson County.
The Barren River District Health Department issued a news release shortly after 10 am Wednesday.
The department called the case “probable” and said confirmatory testing is pending at the CDC. “Based on the initial positive test and preliminary case investigation, state health officials consider this a probable monkeypox infection,” the news release stated.
BRDHD said the patent remains isolated and health officials are working to identify anyone the patient may have had close contact with while infectious.
No other information about the patient was released, due to privacy concerns.
As of July 26, 2022, the CDC reports that 3,591 monkeypox cases have been identified in 24 US states
According to the CDC, monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus.
Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body – like the hands , feet chest, genitals, or anus.
It can spread in different ways, according to the CDC:
- direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids
- secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex
- touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids
- pregnant people can spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta
Monkeypox can spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. People who do not have monkeypox symptoms cannot spread the virus to others. At this time, it is not known if monkeypox can spread through semen or vaginal fluids.
The CDC recommends the following steps to prevent getting monkeypox:
- Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox.
- Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox.
- Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with monkeypox.
- Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox.
- Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
If you are sick monkeypox, experts say you need to isolate yourself at home. And, if you have an active rash or other symptoms, stay in a separate room or area away from people or pets you live with.
Copyright 2022 WBKO. All rights reserved.