Two cases of the mpox virus, formerly known as monkeypox, have been confirmed in El Paso, according to the El Paso Department of Public Health.
Officials announced in a news release on Wednesday, October 16, that two men in their 40s who lived together had contracted the virus and are currently recuperating at home.
Officials said they are working to identify close contacts of the infected person and have begun contractor tracing efforts.
“MPOX continues to be a global health threat and we urge everyone at risk to continue to remain vigilant and take precautions to protect themselves and their families.” said Dr. Hector Ocaranza of the El Paso City-County Health Department. “This includes protecting our most vulnerable community members not only from mpox, but also from other illnesses such as COVID-19 and influenza.”
Mpox vaccine information
Approximately 200 vaccines are available in El Paso for those most at risk or those identified as close contacts of confirmed cases.
More vaccinations are being requested, officials said.
The cases in El Paso come after an outbreak of the virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo spread to neighboring countries, leading the World Health Organization to declare mpox a public health emergency of international concern in August. It occurred inside.
In 2022, the United States declared monkeypox a public health emergency after the mpox outbreak spread to all 50 states.
What is npox?
Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the highly contagious monkeypox virus. Although it belongs to the same family as smallpox, it is not related to chickenpox.
Mpox was first detected in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The disease is considered endemic in the countries of Central and West Africa.
Most people recover completely, but some develop severe symptoms. Children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of complications from mpox.
Symptoms of Mpox
According to the CDC, people with MPOX often develop a rash on their hands, feet, chest, face, mouth, or near their genitals.
The rash may initially look like a pimple or blister before it heals and scabs over.
The incubation period is 3 to 17 days, but you may not have symptoms yet.
Other symptoms include:
Characteristic rash Fever Chills Swollen lymph nodes Fatigue Muscle pain and back pain Headache
How Mpox spreads:
In addition to bites and scratches from infected animals, close personal or intimate physical contact with an infected person can also spread the virus, according to the El Paso Department of Public Health.
For more information, visit the City of El Paso’s mpox information website.
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