More than half of TN’s monkeypox cases reported in one county

Nashville, Tenn. (WKRN) — On Monday, the Biden administration is expected to make an additional 1.8 million doses of the monkeypox vaccine available to order. The decision comes after cases increased across the country and in Tennessee.

The latest CDC data shows there are currently 41,358 cases worldwide, with Indonesia reporting its first case on Saturday. According to the CDC, there are 14,115 cases in the US.

The Tennessee Department of Health reports that there are 107 monkeypox cases in the volunteer state as of Thursday. Last week, Davidson County reported 53 cases, which accounts for half the state’s number of cases.

Data provided by the Tennessee Department of Health shows that most cases in Tennessee are seen in men and African Americans. As of August 18, men made up 94% of the case count and African Americans made up 51% of the case count.

The CDC says the virus is mostly spread through close, intimate contact with someone who already has the virus. While the disease is commonly known for sores left on the skin, the CDC says symptoms of infection can begin with fever, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness before a rash or sore develops.

Earlier this month, a total of 5,762 doses of the vaccine were sent to Tennessee. As of August 19, the volunteer state has received a total of 10,762 doses of the vaccine, according to the Strategic Preparedness and Response Administration.

At this time, health officials are vaccinating only those individuals who are eligible and considered most “at risk”.

The CDC says the people most likely to be classified as eligible to receive the vaccine are:

• People who have been identified by public health officials as contacts of someone with monkeypox
• People who know that a sexual partner has been diagnosed with monkeypox in the past 2 weeks
• People who have had multiple sex partners in the past 2 weeks in an area with known monkeypox
• laboratory workers who test for orthopoxvirus
• Laboratory workers who handle cultures or animals with orthopoxvirus

An updated case count for Davidson County is expected to be released by the Metro Public Health Department on Thursday, Aug.