Oregon health officials have designated monkeypox as an official “disease outbreak” in the state.
The move, which comes as cases are rising rapidly, allows Oregon to require insurance companies to cover vaccines for monkeypox, also called hMPXV.
“This is an important step to ensure that no one will be refused vaccine if they cannot pay or don’t have insurance coverage,” Dr. Dean Sidelinger, Oregon state health officer and epidemiologist, said at a news conference Wednesday.
There are currently 95 confirmed and presumptive monkeypox cases in the state, about three times the number just three weeks ago. That includes 92 men and three women.
Cases have been identified in seven Oregon counties: Clackamas (3), Columbia (1), Coos (1), Lane (17), Marion (1), Multnomah (57) and Washington (15).
In Oregon and other states, most cases of monkeypox have been identified in gay and bisexual men, or other men who have sex with men, Sidelinger said.
But, he said, “anyone can be affected by monkeypox and this is not a gay disease.”
Just under a third of cases are in people who identify as Hispanic, Latino or Latinx. About 14% of Oregon’s population identifies as Hispanic, meaning there is a disproportionate impact in that community.
Oregon, like other states, has limited vaccine supplies and is not offering vaccines to the general population.
So far, the Oregon Health Authority has records of 2,187 monkeypox vaccine doses administered. But data is not yet in from several vaccine clinics, and that number is likely higher, Sidelinger said.
OHA has only 35 doses left in stock, although more are positioned with local public health agencies.
“We do wish that we had more vaccine and antivirals," said Patrick Luedtke, Lane County senior public health officer. "This is a pipeline issue. But the supply is increasing."
Luedtke urged anyone with a strange rash, especially if it gets stranger by the day, to get it checked out.
"We've seen some complicated wounds," he said. "This is not, in some people, one or two of these uncomplicated little pimples."
Nationally, 10,392 monkeypox cases associated with the current outbreak have been confirmed in every state except Wyoming, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There have been no deaths from monkeypox in the United States.
Globally, there have been 31,800 cases in 89 countries, according to the CDC.
Initial symptoms of monkeypox often include fever, headache and muscle aches. These symptoms are followed in one to three days by a rash, often on the face, spreading to the limbs. The rash starts with flat patches that then form large, firm bumps, which then fill with fluid or pus. These then scab and fall off, usually over two to four weeks. Symptoms usually start within seven to 14 days after exposure, with a range of five to 21 days.
Ill people can potentially transmit the infection from when symptoms start until the rash has resolved. Monkeypox typically requires prolonged, close contact. People at increased risk include sexual partners of an ill person, or family members and healthcare workers caring for someone ill with monkeypox.
The Oregon Health Authority has launched a new web page with up-to-date statistics on the monkeypox outbreak, at www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/monkeypox.
Anons focus on this part : Cases have been identified in seven Oregon counties: Clackamas (3), Columbia (1), Coos (1), Lane (17), Marion (1), Multnomah (57) and Washington (15).
Note the Counties. They make up PORTLAND... Can you say 2022 election theft being set up...
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