Monkeypox Cases In MD: State Creates Dashboard

ANNAPOLIS, MD — As monkeypox cases rise both in Maryland and across the country, state health officials on Friday released a human monkeypox data dashboard showing demographics on human monkeypox case counts and vaccination numbers in the state.

“This tool will further help health care providers deliver the care that is needed to Marylanders affected by human monkeypox,” said Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dennis R. Schrader, in a news release. “The dashboard also builds on the information about human monkeypox that the state has been providing to help residents stay healthy and safe.”

Maryland’s first monkeypox case was announced on June 16, according to Gov. Larry Hogan's office. While anyone can get and spread monkeypox, the vast majority of cases have been reported among men who have sex with men.

As of Friday these jurisdictions had the most monkeypox cases:

• Prince George's County: 175
• Baltimore City: 133
• Montgomery County: 57
• Baltimore County: 36
• Anne Arundel County: 29

The dashboard shows 439 of the cases are male, and 20 are female.

A total of 2,124 people in Maryland have been vaccinated for monkeypox to date.

The data dashboard will be updated weekly on Fridays and display:

• Total confirmed cases in the state
• Confirmed cases by jurisdiction
• Confirmed cases by age, sex, race, and ethnicity
• Number of people vaccinated statewide

County case counts below 10 will not be shown to protect patient privacy. If those counts meet or exceed 10 cases, the numbers will be updated, a news release said.

Maryland health departments continue to offer human monkeypox vaccines to those who are eligible per U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Current eligibility includes:

• Public Health Identified Close Contacts: Known close contacts who are identified by public health via case investigation, contact tracing, and risk exposure assessments.
• Occupational Exposure: Healthcare workers who may have been exposed to a known case and Laboratory Response Network or other laboratory staff working directly with monkeypox testing.

In addition, health officials in Baltimore City and Montgomery, Prince George’s and Baltimore Counties are following CDC guidelines to make vaccines available to the following categories of individuals based on supply. Other health departments will do so as supply allows:

• Self-Identified Partners of Cases: Individuals who are aware that one of their sexual partners from the past two weeks has been diagnosed with monkeypox.
• Affected Community Members: Those in high-risk populations who report any of the following in the past two weeks:
  • Recent group sex or sex with multiple partners.
  • Sex or employment at a venue or in association with an event, venue, or defined geographic area where monkeypox transmission has been reported.

“Our goal is to make sure Maryland residents most at-risk for human monkeypox have the opportunity to get a vaccine,” said MDH Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Jinlene Chan. “If you think you may have been exposed to human monkeypox or are eligible for the vaccine, which is free, please reach out to your local health department. ”

MDH continues to partner with local health departments on vaccine distribution within the constraints of federal supply issues.

The World Health Organization has declared a global health emergency, and governments are asking for more vaccines to prevent the rare but serious illness predominantly caused by prolonged intimate physical contact.

Monkeypox has been reported in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

California has the most monkeypox cases in the country with 3,291, followed by 3,124 in New York and 1,739 in Florida.

MD's Monkeypox Testing, Vaccination Plan

Testing Capacity. Testing for monkeypox is available through commercial labs and the MDH state public health laboratory. It is not available to purchase at stores. Residents who believe they were exposed to monkeypox or have an illness that could be monkeypox should contact their medical provider.

People without a provider or insurance should visit health.maryland.gov/CSTIP/local to find contact information for their local health department. Healthcare providers should educate patients on home isolation while results are pending.

Contact Tracing. Contact tracing is being conducted by state and local health departments for all presumed monkeypox cases. Individuals identified as having close contact with case-patients have been offered vaccination through their local health department, in accordance with CDC guidelines.

Public Outreach and Awareness. State health officials continue to conduct direct outreach to clinicians and regularly brief local health officers. A listening session for interested residents has been held as well. MDH has also made available a fact sheet and frequently asked questions with information about human monkeypox. Earlier, the CDC released updated guidance on isolation and prevention practices.

The monkeypox virus has rarely been reported outside of Central and West Africa, where host animals include a range of rodents and monkeys. It can be easily spread from animals to humans through a bite or scratch, according to the WHO. The last time the United States saw a sizable outbreak was in 2003, when 70 cases were linked to the import of infected prairie dogs.

• Related: What Is Monkeypox?

The Associated Press contributed reporting.