Milwaukee – The Milwaukee Department of Health announced Monday that a case of monkeypox had been identified in a Milwaukee resident on Saturday, July 9.
This is the first case in the city of Milwaukee and the second confirmed case of monkeypox in Wisconsin.
Health officials say the risk to the public is low at this time. However, individuals should be aware of the symptoms of monkeypox and seek medical attention if they experience any.
According to the Milwaukee Department of Health, “Monkeypox is characterized by new, unexplained rashes and skin lesions. Recently identified cases have developed skin lesions in the genital, groin, and anal areas that are associated with common diseases such as herpes. The cause may be confused with the rash. Syphilis. Other early symptoms of monkeypox include fever, chills, and swollen lymph nodes.”
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Monkeypox can be spread to anyone through close, personal and frequent skin-to-skin contact. It is mainly spread by direct contact with monkeypox rashes, scabs or body fluids of a person suffering from monkeypox.
Health officials say, “The disease can be spread by a person touching objects, clothing and surfaces that have come in close contact with monkeypox or respiratory secretions. This contact can be done during intimate contact, including oral, anal and vaginal sex or touching the genitals. Maybe. Or the anus of a person with monkeypox.”
Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson said that with the increasing number of cases nationwide, she is not surprised that it has been under-identified in Milwaukee.
“While the disease does not spread easily from person to person without direct contact, we expect more cases to emerge in the coming weeks,” Johnson said. “To control the spread, we encourage residents to be aware of symptoms, follow prevention recommendations, and seek medical help if needed.”
According to the Milwaukee Department of Health, below are recommendations for preventing the spread of monkeypox:
- Avoid close skin-to-skin contact with a monkeypox rash, including avoiding touching the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox and avoiding kissing, hugging, hugging, or having sex with a person with monkeypox.
- If exposed to monkeypox, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible and let them know that you have symptoms or have been exposed to monkeypox. Healthcare providers can provide testing and care for people with monkeypox.
- Monitor for fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes and a new, unexplained rash, and contact a health care provider if any of these occur. If you do not have a healthcare provider, contact your local health department for guidance.
- If sick with monkeypox, isolate at home until the rash has completely resolved, the scab has fallen off, and a new layer of intact skin has formed.
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