St. Clair County Health Department reports first probable monkeypox case in area
The St. Clair County Health Department announced Thursday it has detected the first probable case of monkeypox in the county.
The department is waiting for confirmation from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The probable case is likely associated with domestic travel, a statement said. The health department has not identified any additional local cases.
Any potential close contacts have been notified, the statement continued, and the person who has the probable infection has had minimal contact with the public.
No further patient details will be released to protect confidentiality, the statement added.
As the case has been isolated, the health department said currently “there is no indication there is a great risk of extensive local spread of the virus.”
Monkeypox poses a smaller risk of transmission than COVID-19 does, the department noted.
The CDC has reported 152 confirmed and probable monkeypox cases in Illinois as of Wednesday. The state has the third-highest number of reported infections in the country, so far.
If you have a rash that looks like monkeypox, medical professionals recommend contacting a health care provider. Testing and vaccines may be available for those exposed to or identified at a high risk of contracting monkeypox.
This story was originally published July 14, 2022 at 11:27 AM.
