The first confirmed case of monkeypox in La Plata County was reported Tuesday by San Juan Basin Public Health and involves a resident who has been diagnosed and is receiving treatment for the virus.
The disease has been spreading since spring across the United States, and last week President Joe Biden’s administration declared it a public health emergency. Colorado’s first presumptive case was reported on May 26 in Denver.
“The report of a first case in La Plata County really emphasizes the need for the federal declaration around this public health emergency,” said Liane Jollon, executive director of the health department that serves La Plata and Archuleta counties. “And it emphasizes the need for more vaccine to be made available in communities like ours.”
She said there have been 7,500 identified cases across the country, and increased access to testing is leading to more identified cases.
SJBPH has secured a limited number of the Jynneos vaccine from the national strategic reserve allowing for distribution to those in contact with people diagnosed with monkeypox. However, because of supply shortages, SJBPH is not able to administer pre-exposure vaccines to people at high risk.
Jollon said last week’s declaration of a public health emergency was important because it could make pre-exposure vaccines more widely available. The Jynneos vaccine is a post-exposure vaccine, meaning it is used for people who have been exposed to monkeypox rather than to protect people before infection.
“It’s especially important for those who have been exposed to individuals with confirmed cases to access the vaccine,” Jollon said. “And so this first case, you know, emphasizes why the federal government has declared this a public health emergency, and what the next steps we need in communities like ours is.”
According to SJBPH, early symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and exhaustion. Symptoms usually start within three weeks of exposure. Most people get a rash or skin bumps one to three days after they first start feeling sick.
The infection is often spread through close contact with open sores or through prolonged face-to-face contact. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers monkeypox to be low-risk and rarely fatal. However, those with monkeypox can become extremely sick. It often takes two to four weeks to recover from an infection. Health officials said in most cases, monkeypox will resolve on its own.
Those concerned about having monkeypox can inquire about testing with a local health care provider. SJBPH says the best way to prevent the spread of monkeypox is through avoiding close contact with those who have been infected and wearing a quality mask when spending time around those with monkeypox.
“At this time, the risk to individuals remains low. But the public health community is of course tracking it closely,” Jollon said.
While health risks are low, Jollon said there is potential for outbreak in La Plata County, which is why it is important to inform the community about vaccines and how the infection spreads.
“If someone is able to seek care when they become symptomatic, we can protect friends and family with the post-exposure vaccine,” Jollon said.
For more information about monkeypox and how to prevent the spread, visit the San Juan Basin Public Health website.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
