DETROIT (FOX 2) – The Wayne County Health Department (WCPH) announced it had identified the first case of MPOX since the global outbreak two years ago.
A WCPH news release confirmed a case of MPOX in a county resident, but said there is little risk to the public due to the way MPOX is spread.
WCPH is awaiting the exact virus type and said there have been no new cases of the new Mpox strain (type clade 1) linked to an outbreak in sub-Saharan Africa. The World Health Organization declared a global health emergency due to the nature of the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where there have been over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths.
Mpox is not spread through the air between people, but a person with Mpox is contagious for a total of 2–4 weeks.
Symptoms include flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, and respiratory symptoms. There is also a rash that resembles pimples or blisters, and symptoms begin within 1 day of exposure.
The health department recommends vaccinations for people who are at risk of infection. Two doses four weeks apart are required for complete protection.
A medical worker prepares a dose of monkeypox vaccine at the Edison municipal vaccination center in Paris on July 27, 2022. The French government announced on July 25, 2022 that it would mobilize “additional weapons” for vaccination against monkeypox, at a time when elected officials and associations denounce the lack of resources to contain the outbreak of the disease. (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Mpox vaccinations are free and testing is available at little to no cost from the Wayne County Public Health Division by calling 734-727-7101.
What is mpox?
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a disease caused by infection with a virus similar in nature to smallpox. It is not related to chickenpox.
People with Mpox often get a rash that goes through several stages – including crusting – before it heals.
There are two types of Mpox – Clade I and Clade II. Clade II causes more severe illness and death and can kill up to 10% of those infected. Clade II caused the global outbreak in 2022 and the infections are less severe.
Mpox, which is widespread in Africa, belongs to clade II.
How is Mpox distributed?
According to the CDC, Mpox is transmitted in one of three ways:
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Direct contact with infected animals
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Close contact (including intimate contact) with a person with MPOX
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Direct contact with contaminated materials
How to prevent MPOX
The CDC recommends avoiding close skin contact with people who have a rash that resembles Mpox and also getting vaccinated.
