Monkeypox Dallas – Dallas County has received another shipment of monkeypox vaccine, but only 100 doses are available. The county ran out of monkeypox vaccines as the number of cases increased. There are now 52 cases that have been confirmed.
The county said last week that it ordered another 300 doses from the federal government but has no idea when they will arrive. People who have had direct contact with an infected person are not eligible for vaccination appointments.
The World Health Organization declared the spread of monkeypox a public health emergency. More than 16,000 cases have been confirmed in 75 countries, with nearly 2,900 of them occurring in the United States.
Monkeypox Dallas: More Than 50 Confirmed Cases Of The Virus
The county acknowledges that it may be months before the vaccine is widely available to anyone who believes they may require one.
On Friday, Dallas County Health and Human Services received 100 doses of the monkeypox vaccine. The small shipment arrived at a time when the Dallas-Fort Worth Region leads the state in new infections. At least 89 of the 183 statewide cases are in North Texas, with more than 50 in Dallas County.
According to Dr. Philip Huang, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services, the federal government’s supply of doses is limited.
The county is currently restricting vaccines to people who have had known skin-to-skin contact with an infected individual, a number that is growing with each confirmed case. According to Huang, the county hopes to eventually expand vaccine appointments to more people, but this is dependent on how many doses are made available. Cities across the country are scrambling to stretch vaccine supplies in response to a nationwide shortage of the smallpox-like virus.
Symptoms of Monkeypox
According to the World Health Organization, monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease, which means that it can spread from animals to humans and between humans. The disease is most commonly found in West and Central Africa, where the animals carry the virus.
- Fever
- Backache and muscle aches
- glands that are swollen
- shivering (chills)
- exhaustion
A rash typically appears 1 to 5 days after the onset of the initial symptoms. The rash usually begins on the face and spreads throughout the body. The genitals are included. The rash is occasionally mistaken for chickenpox. It begins with raised spots and progresses to small blisters filled with fluid. These blisters eventually develop into scabs that fall off.
Symptoms usually go away after a few weeks. While experiencing symptoms, one can spread monkeypox to others.
Treatment For Monkeypox
According to the CDC, monkeypox causes flu-like symptoms and a blister-like rash. Treatment with an antiviral medication. Monkeypox is avoidable if people avoid direct contact with infected animals and humans.
When given within four days of monkeypox exposure, the monkeypox vaccine has the best
chance of preventing disease onset. The vaccine may reduce symptoms if given within 14 days of exposure, but it may not prevent illness. Several vaccines for smallpox prevention may offer some protection against monkeypox. Antivirals, genetics, and rapid tests for monkeypox are all being researched. Because monkeypox is so closely related to smallpox and thus cross-protective, treatment may include immediate vaccination with the smallpox vaccine.