Oklahoma Health Department confirms mpox is present in the state – KOCO Oklahoma City

Oklahoma Health Department confirms mpox is present in the state

The state's health department confirmed there are currently five active cases across the state.

Updated: 5:15 PM CDT Oct 31, 2023

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is still present in Oklahoma.The state's health department confirmed there are currently five active cases across the state. The feds said the state has seen a total of 77 cases since the original outbreak in 2022.Doctors said mpox is only spread through skin-to-skin contact, usually during sex. Because of that, basic precautions can go a long way.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here."A naturally occurring disease of animals that has jumped into humans, so technically, we call this a zoonosis," said Dr. Douglas Drevets, chief of infectious disease at OU Health.Drevets said mpox is related to smallpox but far less deadly. Symptoms consist of painful, raised bumps to pox on infected areas of the skin, as well as flu-like symptoms."Its a very different disease than you think of in smallpox," Drevets said.In 2022, the U.S. saw an outbreak, but figures have since gone down dramatically. Oklahoma currently reports five active cases.>> Download the KOCO 5 App"And thats in part because people have been getting vaccinated for it. There is a vaccine. The smallpox vaccine provides pretty good but not perfect immunity, and then people are aware of it, so you can take precautions to protect yourself," Drevets said.With a lot of the recent cases being spread through sex, safe sex is another way to prevent infection."It is person-to-person safe sex. Use precautions. If somebody has rashes or sores, thats probably something you ought to not get involved with," Drevets said.The vaccine is available for free and requires two doses for maximum protection.Top HeadlinesEl Reno police investigate after 20-year-old killed at Halloween party, suspect arrestedFriends stars react to unfathomable loss of Matthew PerryA teacher and ultra-marathoner runs 450 miles to beat international field, set world recordOklahoma City restaurant owner wanted after allegedly sexually abusing teenage staffOklahoma lawmakers look at what led up to decision to close Michelin plant

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is still present in Oklahoma.

The state's health department confirmed there are currently five active cases across the state. The feds said the state has seen a total of 77 cases since the original outbreak in 2022.

Doctors said mpox is only spread through skin-to-skin contact, usually during sex. Because of that, basic precautions can go a long way.

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.

"A naturally occurring disease of animals that has jumped into humans, so technically, we call this a zoonosis," said Dr. Douglas Drevets, chief of infectious disease at OU Health.

Drevets said mpox is related to smallpox but far less deadly. Symptoms consist of painful, raised bumps to pox on infected areas of the skin, as well as flu-like symptoms.

"Its a very different disease than you think of in smallpox," Drevets said.

In 2022, the U.S. saw an outbreak, but figures have since gone down dramatically. Oklahoma currently reports five active cases.

>> Download the KOCO 5 App

"And thats in part because people have been getting vaccinated for it. There is a vaccine. The smallpox vaccine provides pretty good but not perfect immunity, and then people are aware of it, so you can take precautions to protect yourself," Drevets said.

With a lot of the recent cases being spread through sex, safe sex is another way to prevent infection.

"It is person-to-person safe sex. Use precautions. If somebody has rashes or sores, thats probably something you ought to not get involved with," Drevets said.

The vaccine is available for free and requires two doses for maximum protection.

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Oklahoma Health Department confirms mpox is present in the state - KOCO Oklahoma City