RI Steps Up Monkeypox Response As Cases Begin to Spike in MA
GoLocalProv Health Team
RI Steps Up Monkeypox Response As Cases Begin to Spike in MA
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. As part of this current outbreak, four monkeypox cases have been identified in Rhode Island. More than 1,000 cases have been identified nationally, including 49 cases in Massachusetts, and 159 cases in New York. Current evidence from around the country suggests that the virus is spreading mostly through close, intimate contact with someone who has monkeypox.
“At this time, the risk of monkeypox for most Rhode Islanders is low. However, we are taking this global outbreak very seriously,” said Governor Dan McKee. “We are coordinating with our federal partners and are ensuring that healthcare providers throughout the state are prepared to identify any cases and get patients into the appropriate treatment and care.”
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There is ample testing capacity for monkeypox, anti-viral treatment (Tecovirimat), and an FDA-approved vaccine (JYNNEOS) available to prevent this infection. However, the vaccine is currently in short supply nationally.
MA Seeing Spike in Cases
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) on Thursday announced 18 additional cases of monkeypox in adult males within the past seven days, bringing the total number of monkeypox cases in the Commonwealth to, as previously stated, 49 residents since the state’s first case was announced May 18.
The 18 cases announced today had their diagnoses between July 7 and July 13 after testing was completed by the State Public Health Laboratory in Jamaica Plain. DPH is working with local health officials, the patients, and healthcare providers to identify individuals who may have been in contact with the patients while they were infectious. Individuals with monkeypox are advised to isolate and avoid contact with others until they are no longer infectious.
DPH received its initial allocation of 2,004 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine on July 5, and immediately distributed the vaccine to four health care providers that were seeing the highest volume of patients reporting exposure or likely exposure to monkeypox. The number of health care providers and locations offering vaccination across the state is expanding as federal allocation of the vaccine increases. The list of health care providers will be updated on a regular basis on the Commonwealth’s monkeypox vaccine website. DPH is also adding a provider with mobile capacity to administer the vaccine.
- Performing case interviews and contact identification to collect the clinical and epidemiological information needed for isolation, contact monitoring, and post-exposure vaccination.
- In consultation with patients’ healthcare providers and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), assessing cases to determine whether they are appropriate candidates for antiviral treatment (Tecovirimat).
- Coordinating the post-exposure preventive vaccination of close contacts. (All vaccination is being coordinated through RIDOH on a referral basis.)
- Coordinating with select healthcare facilities to serve as vaccination sites. These sites serve communities at the highest risk of exposure.
- Regularly communicating with healthcare providers on clinical recognition, specimen collection, and case reporting 24/7.
- Coordinating specimen collection, transport, and analysis at RIDOH’s State Health Laboratories for clinically compatible cases 24/7.
- Partnering with community organizations and businesses that serve higher-risk populations on prevention education.
RIDOH’s Monkeypox Task Force includes staff from RIDOH’s Division of Preparedness, Response, Infectious Disease, and Emergency Medical Services; the Office of Immunization; the State Health Laboratories; the Health Equity Institute; and RIDOH’s Center for Public Health Communication.
Monkeypox Symptoms
Symptoms can include:
Fever
Headache
Muscle aches and backache
Swollen lymph nodes
Chills
Exhaustion
A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus
Sometimes people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience a rash. The rash goes through different stages before healing completely. Most infections last two to four weeks and resolve on their own, but some cases can become severe.
Monkeypox Transmission
An individual becomes contagious when symptoms first appear. Transmission occurs through close physical contact with body fluids, monkeypox lesions, items that have been contaminated with fluids or lesion materials (clothing, bedding, etc.), or through respiratory droplets following prolonged face-to-face contact. The infectious period ends when all skin sores have crusted over. This may take between two and four weeks. Deaths and hospitalizations from monkeypox are rare.
Monkeypox is much less transmissible than COVID-19, which spreads through the air. Nationally, many gay men, bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men have been diagnosed with monkeypox, especially those who have reported multiple or anonymous sexual partners. RIDOH has shared information about monkeypox and sexually transmitted infection prevention for this group on its “Sexual Health Information for Gay/Bisexual Men and Gender Diverse People” web page. However, people of any sexual orientation or gender identity can become infected and spread monkeypox. RIDOH urges everyone to avoid stigmatizing a particular group or person for monkeypox, but rather support those at highest risk and ensure that all communities remain vigilant.