An preliminary take a look at at an IDPH laboratory yielded a optimistic orthopoxvirus end result, and confirmatory testing is pending on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Unlike Covid-19, which is a brand new virus, monkeypox has been round for the reason that Nineteen Fifties and the bulk of instances come from central and west Africa.
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But for the reason that begin of the 12 months, the CDC has recognized 22 instances of monkeypox in 19 states in this nation. And whereas this is a first in Illinois, docs say they don’t count on a widespread outbreak.
“Even though it’s not likely to be transmitted to a large number of people like COVID, the people that get it can be pretty sick,” stated Dr. John Segreti, an epidemiologist at Rush University Medical Center.
Symptoms embody rashes that always look extreme. In a joint assertion the state and metropolis well being departments say “The person did not require hospitalization and is isolating at home in good condition.”
Doctors say monkeypox is usually unfold by person-to-person contact, although it can be handed by way of contaminated clothes or bedding. And whereas it will probably make sufferers very sick, it is not often deadly.
Doctors say the smallpox vaccine usually works to shield from monkey pox, and there are additionally anti-viral medication in the marketplace to deal with the virus as soon as a affected person has it.
“You’re not gonna get if from walking past someone or seeing them on a bus,” Segreti stated. “You have to have very close contact with someone.”
Public well being officers say there is little or no to no danger to these who haven’t been in shut bodily contact with the Illinois monkeypox affected person. They are in the method of doing contact tracing to determine these who could have been shut to the affected person.
“I don’t think we’ll see a lot of cases, but maybe a few dozen cases,” Segreti stated.
Most monkeypox sufferers expertise solely fever, physique aches, chills and fatigue. People with extra critical sickness could develop a rash and lesions on the face and arms that may unfold to different elements of the physique. No deaths have been reported in the present outbreak past Africa.
Doctors say these with COVID-19 might be asymptomatic and have it with out understanding it, and unfold it. They say with monkeypox you often will exhibit signs and might isolate to maintain from spreading it.
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