GARY — Health officials in Gary have confirmed the second case of monkeypox in the state of Indiana.
Gary health commissioner, Dr. Roland H. Walker said the case was confirmed Sunday and that person is isolated currently.
The Indiana Department of Health confirmed the first case of monkeypox in Indiana over the weekend.
Gary Mayor Jerome Prince and Dr. Walker believe the proximity to Chicago is a reason to be understanding of the case occurring in Gary.
As of 5 p.m. on June 21, there were a total of 141 cases in the United States, according to the CDC.
Person-to-person transmission is possible either through skin-to-skin contact with body fluids, monkeypox sores, or contaminated items, such as bedding or clothing, or through exposure to respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face contact.
Monkeypox typically begins with fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, and exhaustion about 5 to 21 days after exposure. Within 1 to 3 days (sometimes longer) after the appearance of fever, the patient develops a rash, often beginning on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body. Some people may only develop the rash. The illness typically lasts for 2 to 4 weeks. People are considered infectious until all scabs from the rash have fallen off.
“The risk of monkeypox among the general public continues to be extremely low,” said State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG. “Monkeypox is rare and does not easily spread through brief casual contact. Please continue to take the same steps you do to protect against any infection, including washing your hands frequently and thoroughly, and check with a healthcare provider if you have any new signs or symptoms.”
Visit the CDC’s website for more information on the monkeypox outbreak.
Visit the Indiana Department of Health at www.Statehealth.in.gov for important health and safety information or follow us on Twitter at @StateHealthIN and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StateHealthIN.
