August 22, 2022 – The Macon County Health Department (MCHD) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) are investigating a case of Monkeypox (MPV) linked to a congregate care facility in Macon County. At this time, we consider the risk of exposure to be minimal, but, out of an abundance of caution, are screening and offering vaccines to those identified as an exposure risk. This release is intended to notify the public that MPV is present in Macon County; however, the MCHD does not plan to regularly report MPV cases.
Transmission is possible through:
- Close physical contact with body fluids or MPV sores of a person infected with MPV, regardless of sexual orientation;
- Contact with items that have been contaminated with fluids or sores (clothing, bedding, etc.);
- And/Or respiratory droplets following prolonged face-to-face contact.
MPV is a rare, but potentially serious, viral illness that typically begins with flu-like symptoms and swelling of the lymph nodes and progresses to a rash on the face and/or body. MPV can spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed.
The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. People who do not have MPV symptoms cannot spread the virus to others. People who have a new or unexplained rash, sores, or symptoms, or have a confirmed exposure, should contact a healthcare provider and avoid sex or being intimate with anyone until they have been seen.
If a person or their partner has MPV, they should follow the treatment and prevention recommendations outlined by their healthcare provider and avoid sex or being intimate with anyone until all sores have healed and have a fresh layer of skin formed. Illness could be clinically confused with a sexually transmitted infection like syphilis or herpes, or with varicella zoster virus.
In regards to the MPV vaccine, counties were not eligible to receive vaccine unless they had a confirmed case of the virus. Upon notification of the confirmed case in Macon County, the MCHD requested the vaccine immediately and will provide additional updates regarding access to the vaccine.
We will continue to keep the community updated and informed as we learn more. For more immediate information, please click here.
