In February, Wake County Public Health (WCPH) announced there had been a small outbreak of mpox — a virus in the smallpox family which results in a painful skin infection. As a result, WCPH was reminding people who are at risk they qualify to receive a vaccine to help combat potential infections.
“[We’re] working with local health departments and community partners to identify and respond to every case of mpox,” spokespeople from the North Carolina Dept. of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) said. Addressing disparities and advancing health equity is central to our response.
WCPH reported three new cases of mpox for the first time in months this past February, reminding at-risk people they are able to receive vaccines for the virus at WCPH clinics. Qualifying individuals include anyone who has or may have multiple or anonymous sex partners, anyone whose sex partners are eligible per the criteria above, people who know or suspect they have been exposed to mpox in the last 14 days or anyone else who considers themselves to be at risk for mpox through sex or other intimate contact.
According to NCDHHS, mpox can be spread person-to-person through bodily fluids, items which came in contact with infected fluids or lesion crusts and respiratory droplets.
The symptoms of mpox include headache, fever, chills, body ache, fatigue and swollen lymph glands. The incubation period for the virus usually ranges from one to two weeks, but it could take upwards of three weeks before symptoms manifest.
The first case of mpox in North Carolina was reported on June 23, 2022, and according to NCDHHS, most of the cases in North Carolina have occurred in men who’ve had sex with men. Around 96 percent of cases in the state have been in men and 67 percent of those cases have occurred in Black North Carolinians.
There have been almost 27,000 mpox vaccines administered in North Carolina, and because of that, NCDHHS claims the spread of the virus in the state has been minimal.
According to the NCDHHS website: “Vaccines are free and available, regardless of immigration status. Vaccination can protect against mpox infection or to reduce disease severity if infection does occur.”