ASHEVILLE – Buncombe County is at the center of monkeypox virus vaccination efforts in western North Carolina and has already immunized 60 people, according to Public Health Director Stacie Saunders.
Buncombe Health and Human Services has already received 520 doses of the vaccine in three shipments and shipped 100 doses to other providers in the region, Saunders said at a news conference on July 22, a day after the county reported its first case of monkey pox.
“Right now, for Buncombe County, we’re acting as a hub for Western North Carolina,” Saunders said. The local supply of vaccines is limited but growing, he noted.
Saunders also discussed who the virus is affecting and what steps to take after exposure.
“Anyone can get monkeypox,” he said. “And in this particular outbreak, we’re seeing it disproportionately affect our men who have sex with men and transgender people. Nearly all of the cases in North Carolina have been between men who have sex with men and transgender family members and loved ones.” “. some.”
Saunders invited those people, along with anyone who has had contact with someone who has the monkeypox virus, to come and get tested at regional health centers.
Those eligible for vaccines at this time include:
“If you’re in a group that’s being hit hard by this particular outbreak, we want you to come see us. We want you to look for signs and symptoms. We want to get checked out. We want you to come in and get tested. And we want you to come in and get vaccinated.” Saunders said, noting that almost all cases in the state were in this group.
“We need that group to listen to us and understand that we are here to help.”
BCHHS is asking those concerned about infection to get checked out, get tested and, if eligible, protect themselves.
How many WNC cases? Where to go for help?
As of July 22, there were 27 cases of monkeypox in North Carolina, according to data from North Carolina Health and Human Services. On the same subject : Roper publishes editorial on science, public health and politics | Newsroom.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 2,593 cases in the US on July 21.
Saunders said there will be no local updates on the number of monkeypox cases in Buncombe County.
Free monkeypox vaccines are available from the county health department, which is the region’s immunization center with offices at 40 Coxe Ave. in downtown.
People can also get the vaccine at Western North Carolina Community Health Services, which has offices at Minnie Jones Health Center, 257 Biltmore Ave.
Anyone can contact BCHHS staff at 828-250-5300 if they have questions about possible exposure or need to be vaccinated against monkeypox.
Symptoms
Monkeypox often begins with a fever, exhaustion, headache, and sometimes a sore throat and cough, according to a July 21 BCHHS release. Read also : Intellect partners with MSIG Hong Kong to provide holistic mental health support to its policyholders.
Lymph nodes can swell in the neck, armpits, or groin, on one or both sides of the body. Soon after, a rash may appear. In some of the recent cases, the first symptom was a rash. This may also look like blisters, sores, bumps, or pimples.
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It is spread from person to person through direct skin-to-skin contact.
Such contact often occurs during prolonged face-to-face contact or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, fondling, or sex.
Anyone can get monkeypox, but in the current outbreak, many of the cases are in people who have multiple or anonymous sexual partners.
Andrew Jones is a Buncombe County health and government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at @arjonesreports on Facebook and Twitter, 828-226-6203, or arjones@citizentimes.com. Help support this type of journalism with a subscription to Citizen Times.
