The Mecklenburg County Health Department on Tuesday reported North Carolina’s first known pediatric case of monkeypox.
This means that someone under the age of 18 has tested positive for the virus.
Over the past week, North Carolina has reported an average of 11 new monkeypox cases every day.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said there are 261 cases of monkeypox in the state as of Tuesday. On August 9, the state registered 114 cases. On July 25, North Carolina reported 34 cases.
There is some concern with students going back to classes next week, but a doctor told WRAL News that parents should remain vigilant but not worry.
As of Tuesday, nearly all cases in North Carolina are in men, except for the only case in someone under the age of 18.
“I just talked to my doctor and he didn’t mention it,” said parent Jamie Anderson. “I’m fine.”
WRAL News spoke with a Duke Pediatric Infectious Disease doctor at Duke Health Ibukun Kalu to shed some light on how a child can test positive for monkeypox and how concerned parents should be.
“Parents should be concerned about the spread of infections in our community. Although we have seen fewer cases of monkeypox in children, we are not anticipating that many cases will spread to children,” Kalu said.
Health leaders said monkeypox is spreading among people who have had skin-to-skin contact with someone who is infected. The CDC says this can include holding, hugging, feeding, and sharing items such as towels, bedding, and utensils.
It’s important to monitor your kids for new rashes, as Kalu said it may not be monkeypox, but another infection you’ll need to pay attention to.
Black men make up about 70% of cases in the state, but only 26% of those who have been vaccinated in North Carolina. White men account for about 25% of all cases, but 63% of all vaccinations.
Health leaders said they were addressing inequality through targeted vaccination programs.
Over the weekend at Charlotte Pride, nearly 2,000 people were vaccinated against monkeypox.
In North Carolina, four out of every 10 infections are among people living in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. The virus is spreading mostly among gay and bisexual men and transgender people.
“We’re doing this because we don’t have enough vaccines,” said UNC health infectious disease specialist Dr David Wohl. “That’s what worries me.
“With yet another outbreak, we are eight ball behind. We did not do our work together at the federal level. We did not get the vaccine in the country as we should have. Others punched us and ordered the vaccine. ,
Earlier this month, the US Food and Drug Administration announced that it would expand its authorization to allow a different way to obtain a dose of the monkeypox vaccine due to high demand in some parts of the country. Instead of a regular shot, providers can now use an intradermal shot between the layers of the skin. The new method of vaccine injection is one-fifth of the original dose.
Wohl said there are three things people can do to protect themselves:
- Be Discreet and Check Your Partners for Wounds
- Encourage people at high risk to get vaccinated
- monitor symptoms
“We’re seeing a lot of sores in the genital area or rectal area, sometimes on the face or other places,” Wohl said.
Wohl said people who attend Pride or other social settings, such as bars and concerts, should not be concerned about catching monkeypox. However, he encourages people to monitor for symptoms — such as bumps and blisters — and be discreet about sexual partners.
“You have to know your partner,” Wohl said. “If you don’t know them, know them. That is, to talk.
“Any new sores? Any new bumps or ulcers I should be aware of? If you’re going to be intimate with someone, maybe take a look before you jump in and just look at each other. I don’t think so That it’s off the table.”
Early symptoms may include fever or pain when swallowing. It may take one to three weeks for symptoms to appear.
“Condoms won’t protect you from monkeypox, because a lesion can occur outside the area a condom covers,” Wohl said. “You have to be thoughtful about it and we don’t know how much shedding happens before the wound shows up.”
As of Tuesday, Wake County is reporting 24 cases, Durham County has 11 cases and Cumberland County has nine cases.
The number is lower than the 112 cases reported in Mecklenburg County, which remains the epicenter of the outbreak.
(This story has not been edited by seemayo staff and is published from a rss feed)