Monkeypox in Louisiana: What you need to know about numbers, vaccines, and more – WDSU New Orleans

LATEST UPDATES. ALL RIGHT TONIGHT. IT IS A STORY. YOULL ONLY SEE ON WDSU AND INSIDE PERSPECTIVE ON HOW MONKEYPOX IS AFFECTING ONE LOCAL MAN. HE SHARED HIS STORY WITH WDSUS ELI BRAND ELI DESCRIBED THE PAIN THAT THIS MAN SAYS HE HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH AS HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS. KEEP AN EYE ON HOW THE DISEASE IS SPREADING WELL, SO HE SAYS THAT PAIN IS UNBEARABLE NOW HERE IN THE STATE THE LOUISIANA HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS THERE ARE 38 CASES OF MONKEYPOX RIGHT NOW MOST OF THOSE HERE IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA THAT MAN I SPOKE TO SAYS WHAT HES GOING THROUGH IS UNIMAGINABLE. THE PAIN THAT YOU RECEIVE FROM THAT ITS JUST ITS KIND OF INDESCRIBABLE. YEAH, SO I COULD MAYBE SLEEP. ONE TO TWO HOURS BEFORE GETTING WAKING UP IN THE PAIN BREAKS YOU UP THIS PATIENT. WE SPOKE TO DID NOT WANT TO GO ON CAMERA, BUT HE SAYS HIS MONKEYPOX FIGHT STARTED TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN HE FOUND A RASH. HE SAYS WHAT HES EXPERIENCED EVER SINCE THE DIAGNOSIS HAS BEEN UNBEARABLE JUST THE MENTAL HELL THAT YOU GO THROUGH IN YOUR HEAD TOO, YOU KNOW AGAIN NOT KNOWING AND WHEN IS IT GONNA END AND HOW AM I GONNA GET HELP THIS PAIN IS JUST ITS NOT STOPPING. YOU KNOW, I CANT REALLY EAT. I CANT RELAX. I CANT SLEEP. I CANT SIT. I CANT LAY DOWN. JUST IMAGINE ALL THOSE THINGS JUST HAPPENING ALL AT ONCE. IT WAS A LOT TO COME TO TERMS WITH HE SAYS LEGIONS FEEL LIKE GLASS STABBING HIS SKIN SOMETHING. HE SAYS HE WOULDNT WISH ON ANYONE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS SAY THE DISEASE IS NOT AIRBORNE LIKE COVID-19. YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO TYPE SOMEBODY WHEN YOU GET THIS IM YOU ACTUALLY GET THESE LITTLE VESICLES ON YOU WHICH ARE THE FANS WHERE IF THAT LOOKS LIKE LITTLE BUMPS WITH FLUID-FILLED BUMPS. THEY START OUT AS FLUID PHIL BUMPS. SOMETIMES GET CLOUDY THE BUMPS POP AND THEN EVENTUALLY SCAB OVER ITS NOT UNTIL THEYRE COMPLETELY YIELD THAT YOURE NO LONGER CONTAGIOUS THAT PATIENT HOPES TO BE BACK TO NORMAL ON TUESDAY, BUT IS ENCOURAGING EVERYONE ELIGIBLE TO GET VACCINATED AND STAY SAFE. ITS GOOD TO SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY, YOU KNOW BECAUSE ITS REALLY NOTHING TO MESS WITH. ITS A REALLY SCARY. ITS A SCARY TIME. NOW THE PEOPLE HERE IN LOUISIANA THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT MONKEY BOX VACCINE OR ANYONE THAT COMES IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE THAT IS ALREADY INFECTED WITH THE VIRUS REPOR

Monkeypox in Louisiana: What you need to know about numbers, vaccines, and more

Updated: 1:50 PM CDT Aug 15, 2022

The fear of monkeypox has been spreading throughout the state. Many have concerns about the virus but are unsure what it is and how to help prevent the spread. Monkeypox is a viral illness that typically involves flu-like symptoms, swelling of the lymph nodes, and a painful rash that includes fluid inside them before scabbing over. The Louisiana Department of Health offers insight on what monkeypox is and how to prevent it. Current monkeypox statistics in Louisiana: 108 total cases in Louisiana 5 new Louisiana infections84 cases in the New Orleans Metro area No confirmed deathsIs there a vaccine?Yes, JYNNEOS is the name of the FDA-approved monkeypox vaccine. It is two doses, administered 28 days apart. Full protection begins two weeks after the second shot.The monkeypox vaccine is available to those who are eligible at no cost.Who is eligible to receive the vaccine?There is a limited amount of monkeypox vaccines in Louisiana. Therefore, there are two groups currently eligible for the vaccine:Individuals with known exposuresIndividuals with likely high-risk exposures in the last 14 days.As of right now, individuals that are considered high-risk are:Individuals that are gay, bisexual, other (cis or trans) men who have sexual contact with men or transgender women and nonbinary persons assigned male at birth who have sexual contact with men and:Have had intimate or sexual contact with multiple or anonymous partners in the last 14 daysHave had intimate or sexual contact with other men in a social or sexual venue in the last 14 daysOR Individuals (of any sex/gender identity) who have given or received money or other goods/services in exchange for sex in the last 14 daysAnyone can contract monkeypox, and the current eligibility criteria are only limited to the above groups because they are most at risk based on the first diagnoses we have seen. However, the criteria will be expanded as additional vaccine becomes available and/or individuals from other groups are diagnosed.Click here for a list of locations in Louisiana where you can receive the monkeypox vaccine.How is monkeypox spread? Monkeypox is most commonly spread from one person to another, through direct contact with a rash or sores of someone with the virus.Monkeypox often gets confused as a sexually transmitted disease. Even though you can get monkeypox sexually, it is not an STD. Anyone can get monkeypox through direct contact with someone infected. You can also get monkeypox by wearing clothes, sharing bed sheets or sharing other items with someone infected. However, you can not spread monkeypox if you do not have any symptoms. What are the symptoms? Symptoms of monkeypox can include:FeverHeadacheMuscle aches and backacheSwollen lymph nodesChillsExhaustionA rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus How to prevent the spread of monkeypox:Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people with a rash that looks like monkeypox.Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox.Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sexual contact with someone with monkeypox.Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox.Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox.Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.If you do not feel well or have an unusual rash or sores, take a break from going to bars, gyms, clubs, and other events.What to do if you have symptoms: Be sure to wear a mask and cover any lesions if you have a rash, and contact your health care provider immediately. Avoid sexual or close intimate contact with anyone until you have been checked. If you have symptoms and would like to be tested for monkeypox, contact your health care provider. Anyone without a provider or insurance can also be tested at their local parish health clinic. Click here to find a clinic in a parish near you. Self-isolate until you hear back on your test results or if you test positive. To learn more about monkeypox, go to Monkeypox | La Dept. of Health.

The fear of monkeypox has been spreading throughout the state. Many have concerns about the virus but are unsure what it is and how to help prevent the spread.

Monkeypox is a viral illness that typically involves flu-like symptoms, swelling of the lymph nodes, and a painful rash that includes fluid inside them before scabbing over.

The Louisiana Department of Health offers insight on what monkeypox is and how to prevent it.

Yes, JYNNEOS is the name of the FDA-approved monkeypox vaccine. It is two doses, administered 28 days apart. Full protection begins two weeks after the second shot.

The monkeypox vaccine is available to those who are eligible at no cost.

There is a limited amount of monkeypox vaccines in Louisiana. Therefore, there are two groups currently eligible for the vaccine:

As of right now, individuals that are considered high-risk are:

Individuals that are gay, bisexual, other (cis or trans) men who have sexual contact with men or transgender women and nonbinary persons assigned male at birth who have sexual contact with men and:

OR Individuals (of any sex/gender identity) who have given or received money or other goods/services in exchange for sex in the last 14 days

Anyone can contract monkeypox, and the current eligibility criteria are only limited to the above groups because they are most at risk based on the first diagnoses we have seen. However, the criteria will be expanded as additional vaccine becomes available and/or individuals from other groups are diagnosed.

Click here for a list of locations in Louisiana where you can receive the monkeypox vaccine.

Monkeypox is most commonly spread from one person to another, through direct contact with a rash or sores of someone with the virus.

Monkeypox often gets confused as a sexually transmitted disease. Even though you can get monkeypox sexually, it is not an STD.

Anyone can get monkeypox through direct contact with someone infected. You can also get monkeypox by wearing clothes, sharing bed sheets or sharing other items with someone infected.

However, you can not spread monkeypox if you do not have any symptoms.

Symptoms of monkeypox can include:

Be sure to wear a mask and cover any lesions if you have a rash, and contact your health care provider immediately.

Avoid sexual or close intimate contact with anyone until you have been checked.

If you have symptoms and would like to be tested for monkeypox, contact your health care provider. Anyone without a provider or insurance can also be tested at their local parish health clinic. Click here to find a clinic in a parish near you.

Self-isolate until you hear back on your test results or if you test positive.

To learn more about monkeypox, go to Monkeypox | La Dept. of Health.

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Monkeypox in Louisiana: What you need to know about numbers, vaccines, and more - WDSU New Orleans