![First Case of Monkeypox in Montana Confirmed in Flathead County](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2022/08/attachment-GettyImages-1398945327.jpg?w=980&q=75)
First Case of Monkeypox in Montana Confirmed in Flathead County
On Friday, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, along with the Flathead City-County Health Department confirmed the state’s first case of monkeypox found in a Flathead County adult.
The DPHHS is working in conjunction with the local public health department, along with the patient’s healthcare provider to identify anyone who may have been in contact with the individual while they were infectious through contact tracing, and will follow through by contacting anyone confirmed as a possible close contact.
The patient, who has not been identified by name or gender, did not require hospitalization and is self-isolating at home.
The DPHHS stated that as of Friday, August 4, 7102 cases of monkeypox/orthopox virus have been confirmed in the 48 contiguous United States, while more than 26,000 cases have been confirmed in 81 countries.
The DPHHS stated that symptoms of monkeypox can include fever, headaches, muscle ache, and backache, as well as swollen lymph nodes and a rash that may resemble pimples or even blisters that can occur on the patient’s face or other parts of the body.
The virus is primarily spread through contact with infectious sores and bodily fluids, or through droplets associated with face-to-face contact, such as kissing. The Centers for Disease Control say that monkeypox is spread through close, intimate contact with someone who has the disease.
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DPHHS has launched a special website to provide more information about the disease. Click here for more details.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, monkeypox has officially been declared a national emergency. 1.1 million doses of a vaccine called JYNNEOS are being sent to several states and jurisdictions.
According to the HHS, monkeypox is rarely fatal and there are both vaccines and treatment available.
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