NJ’s Monkeypox Cases Double In 5 Days: Where The Outbreak Stands

NEW JERSEY — Monkeypox continues to take hold in New Jersey. The Garden State's case total nearly doubled in five days, reaching 41 infections as of Monday.

The monkeypox outbreak, which began emerging around the world in May, differs from COVID-19 in several ways: It's not a new disease. It hasn't been nearly as deadly. And the outbreak began with vaccines already in existence. But with limited public-health mobilization in the United States to make tests, treatment and vaccines widely available, the nation risks letting the virus spread during a key window for early mitigation.

The monkeypox outbreak has grown to 1,972 confirmed cases in the United States, according to the CDC. The disease is often characterized by painful, itchy legions and poxes and can cause flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache and swollen lymph nodes.

New Jersey's case total has remained small compared to its neighbors across the Hudson — New York City has 618 confirmed cases as of Monday — but it continues to accelerate. State officials reported New Jersey's first probable monkeypox case June 18, and the New Jersey Department of Health tallied four cases to end June. The total reached 22 cases Wednesday and stood at 41 on Monday. (The state's tally often differs from the CDC's case count, because of different reporting timeframes and the state's inclusion of probable cases.)

For most of New Jersey's cases, local and county health officials have not informed the public when the disease has been detected in their communities. The state health department also declined to reveal a case total by county, which has been widely available for COVID-19 for quite some time.

"The majority of cases have been found in northern New Jersey," Nancy Kearney, a spokesperson for the state health department, told Patch via email. "Due to privacy concerns no other information is available."

Getting tested for monkeypox and obtaining a result is a lengthy process that often requires approval from health professionals at several levels. In mid-July, the state health department told Patch that it has denied more requests for patients to get monkeypox tests than it's accepted, allowing 16 to get tested and rejecting 29 people. Read more: Monkeypox Test Requests Denied In NJ

The state denies testing requests based on a person's known exposures to the disease and its clinical presentation in a patient, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. But with enough supply to conduct 420 tests, the state health department said in mid-July that it had enough tests to meet demand.

The World Health Organization's expert monkeypox committee declined last month to deem the disease a global-health emergency for the time being. But with cases continuing to increase, the committee will reconvene Thursday to reconsider whether it meets the criteria for emergency designation.

The disease is considered endemic in West and Central Africa, but the current outbreak was first discovered in a cluster of cases in the United Kingdom. Most of the outbreak's confirmed cases with travel history involve travel to Europe and North America, according to the WHO.

How does monkeypox spread?

The virus most often spreads through direct contact with a rash or sore of someone who has monkeypox, according to the New York City Department of Health. It can also spread through contact with bedding, clothing and other items a person with monkeypox has used.

Transmission can happen during sex and other intimate activities because of close contact, but it's not known whether monkeypox can spread through saliva, semen or vaginal fluids, according to New York City health officials.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms generally start one to two weeks after exposure but in some cases may not appear for up to 21 days. The most common symptoms are rashes and sores that look like blisters or pimples. The rash and sores can be painful and typically last two to four weeks.

Some people also get flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, tiredness and swollen lymph nodes. People who think they may have been exposed to monkeypox or who have symptoms should speak with a health care provider, the New Jersey Department of Health says.

The WHO has tallied three deaths from the current outbreak.

What should you do if you might have monkeypox?

The New Jersey Department of Health recommends taking the following steps:

• If you think you might have monkeypox, seek medical care immediately.
• Call ahead before you arrive at a doctor's office, urgent-care center or hospital, so they can be ready to isolate you from others.
• Wear a mask to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets.
• Monkeypox rashes that occur in the genital or anal area may look like herpes or syphilis. So be sure to tell you health care provider if you were in contact with someone who had/has monkeypox.

Patients with confirmed or suspected monkeypox should isolate themselves from others. Those who don't need hospitalization but remain potentially infectious should isolate at home, the CDC says. Decisions to end quarantines should come after consultation with local and state health departments.

People with monkeypox should continue isolating until all lesions have resolved, the scabs have fallen off and a new layer of skin has formed, according to the CDC.

The United States has no mandatory quarantine for monkeypox, but several nations have instituted them. Belgium became the first, introducing a mandatory 21-day quarantine for monkeypox patients in late May.