CT Has 12 Confirmed Monkeypox Cases: 5 Things To Know

CONNECTICUT — Connecticut now has 12 confirmed monkeypox cases, according to the state Department of Public Health.

The first confirmed Connecticut case was announced July 5 and state Department of Public Health officials predicted that more cases were likely.

How many confirmed cases in Connecticut, the rest of the U.S. and world?

All 11 Connecticut patients are between 20 and 50 years old and reside in Fairfield, New Haven and Hartford counties. The majority of the patients haven't required hospitalization, according to DPH.

There are more than 1,400 recorded cases in the U.S. as of July 14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New York has 414 confirmed cases, Massachusetts has 65 New Jersey has 26 and Rhode Island recorded four cases.

Globally, there are more than 11,600 confirmed cases as of July 14, according to the CDC.

What are the signs and symptoms?

Monkeypox can cause a rash that looks like pimples or blisters, according to the CDC. The rash typically appears on the face, inside the mouth, hands, feet, chest and other areas of the body.

Sometimes the rash is the only symptom.

Other symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion.

Infections are rarely fatal. There have been three deaths recorded in Africa, but none in the U.S. or other parts of the world as of July 4, according to the World Health Organization's situation report. There were more than 6,000 cases recorded worldwide as of July 4.

How is it spread?

The virus spreads multiple ways, including direct contact with the infectious rash or body fluids. It can also be contracted by touching clothing or linens that previously touched the infectious rash.

The virus is also spread through respiratory secretions. However, there needs to be prolonged face-to-face contact or intimate physical contact such as kissing for it to spread, according to the CDC.

"Although anyone can get and spread monkeypox, the current cases are primarily spreading among social networks of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men," DPH said in a statement. "For those who have multiple or anonymous sex partners, their likelihood of monkeypox exposure is high."

Testing

Diagnostic testing for monkeypox is now available from commercial laboratories, including Labcorp, Mayo Clinic and Quest. Providers can order testing from the laboratories as they would any other diagnostic test. Testing is also available through the state Public Health Laboratory.

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Vaccines

There are two vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration for preventing monkeypox infection. The current vaccine strategy in the U.S. is highly targeted and is aimed at people who have been exposed or who are highly likely to have been exposed.

The JYNNEOS vaccine is available in a limited supply, but more doses are expected in the coming weeks and months.

Connecticut hasn't received a substantial allotment of vaccine doses due to its low case count, Juthani said.

“At the present time, our top priority is ensuring access to post-exposure prophylaxis and then expanding to a larger pool of at-risk persons when our vaccine supply allows us to do so,” Juthani said in a statement.

People seeking treatment or information on vaccine and antivirals can contact health care providers or call the DPH Epidemiology Program at (860) 509-7994 or (860) 509-8000

There is a larger supply of the ACAM2000 vaccine, but it can't be used by people with certain health conditions, including immune deficiency disorders and cardiac disease. It is a live virus that can replicate in the human body, and it can have serious side effects.

Vaccines can be used after exposure as a prophylaxis treatment, according to the CDC. It is best administered within four days of exposure to prevent the disease. It can be used four to 14 days after exposure, but it is more likely to reduce symptoms than to prevent the disease.