MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – A Dane County resident has become the first Wisconsinite confirmed to have monkeypox. But for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, just one case isn’t quite setting off alarms.
“So far, there have been no fatalities in the United States. Maybe one in the world out of several thousand,” said Bureau of Infectious Disease Dr. Ryan Westergaard. “So it doesn’t cause severe disease and it’s not terribly transmissible, but it is a big deal that we make people aware of it because we don’t want to miss any cases.”
According to the CDC, because the monkeypox virus is closely related to the virus that causes smallpox, the smallpox vaccine can protect people from getting monkeypox. Past data from Africa suggests that the smallpox vaccine is at least 85% effective in preventing monkeypox.
“We can prevent and treat people with monkey pox infection. We can potentially prevent it from spreading and taking hold so it becomes an endemic virus, but we’re only going to do that if we catch as many cases as we can,” Westergaard said. “Which means making sure that all of our health care professionals know what to look for, making sure they know what to do if they encounter a patient, getting the right kinds of testing. [Ensuring that] local and tribal public health know how to investigate and how to obtain vaccines.”
Right now, the concern doesn’t land so much on warning about significant spread as it is on education about the virus.
“We’re spending a good amount of time, even though there is one case, to make sure that we’re communicating what is important to know about monkeypox,” Westergaard told WTAQ News. “To communicate the message as not being this is a scary thing or this is large scale threat to public health. It’s important because we have an opportunity to prevent it from spreading widely, but we’re only gonna do that if people think to test for it…It’s not a trivial virus. People have died from monkeypox. You don’t want it, for sure, but it’s not something that’s going to cause undue alarm for the general public.”
Westergaard says it’s likely that more cases will be found amongst Wisconsin residents. However, he says that the disease does not spread easily.
The virus is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact as well as bodily fluids. There is some possible transmission through respiratory droplets, which is why those taking care of monkeypox patients are advised to wear personal protective equipment.
“We do not have a great deal of concern that it’s going to cause a large pandemic, for example. So it’s important for those reason that we have a good opportunity, if we word hard and use the systems we have, to prevent it from becoming endemic,” Westergaard said. “I think a better example of what we’re trying to avoid is for it becoming like syphilis or herpes. Diseases that are not terribly common, but we have to be very vigilant to diagnose cases and treat them and get them out of contact with others.”
While the virus has happened to be spreading in communities of people who have had intimate contact with others, Westergaard says it’s not specifically and STD.
“The current outbreak is resembling a sexually transmitted infection. To the present moment, it has largely been spreading within networks of men who identify as gay or bisexual and other men who have sex with men…That information is useful to know how it’s transmitted and what people should look out for, but again, it’s important to know that this is not strictly sexually transmitted. People should be aware that the virus is present,” Westergaard said. “We also want to make sure that people understand this is not a disease that affects only people who identify as LGBTQ. Anyone can get it, and it’s important we communicate about it to avoid language that can shame or marginalize people…Everyone is at risk. Some people are more risk than others. You should know the signs and symptoms and feel comfortable talking to medical provider to get tested.”
Those infected with monkeypox typically first experience a new, unexplained rash and skin lesions. Other early symptoms include fever, chills and swollen lymph nodes.
DHS advises doctors to remain alert and test for monkeypox when treating patients with compatible rashes.
There have been almost 400 confirmed monkeypox cases in the U.S. as of Thursday.
You can learn more about the virus and the symptoms it causes on the Department of Health Service’s website.
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