Monkeypox in Garfield County, population at low risk

PRESS RELEASE
August 4, 2022

Symptoms to watch for and who is prioritized for vaccine and treatment

 

There is one confirmed case of monkeypox in Garfield County. The risk to the general community is low. Garfield County Public Health staff is working to reduce the risk of transmission through awareness and education efforts.

 

If you think or know you have been exposed to monkeypox, contact a health care provider as soon as possible as they can determine if you are eligible for vaccine and treatment, which work best if administered early. Your provider may order a monkeypox test to determine illness.

 

How the virus is transmitted

Monkeypox transmission typically requires skin-to-skin contact, direct contact with body fluids, or prolonged face-to-face contact with an infected person. Anyone is at risk of contracting monkeypox through close contact.

 

Symptoms

Most people recover from monkeypox in two to four weeks, and it is rarely fatal. It may begin with flu-like symptoms that can include fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and exhaustion. Typically, within five days after the onset of fever, a rash that can look like pimples or blisters may appear on the face or inside the mouth and then spread to other parts of the body. Contact a health care provider and avoid physical contact with others if you think you have been exposed or are experiencing symptoms. A person is contagious with monkeypox until all of the scabs on the skin have fallen off and a fresh layer of skin has formed.

 

About the vaccine and who is eligible

When vaccines become available in Garfield County, they will be prioritized for, men aged 18 years and older who are gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men who have had multiple or anonymous sex partners in the last 14 days, per CDC guidance. Anyone who believes they have been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox in the last 14 days is also eligible for the vaccine. Getting the vaccine between four and 14 days after exposure can help prevent severe illness but may not completely prevent infection.

 

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment monkeypox information