Monkeypox Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

W.Va. Group Begins Monkeypox Education Efforts In Appalachia

A West Virginia nonprofit group has been awarded $100,000 in grants for monkeypox vaccination and education efforts among LGTBQ individuals in 13 Appalachian states.

A West Virginia nonprofit group said Monday it has been awarded $100,000 in grants for monkeypox vaccination and education efforts among LGTBQ individuals in 13 Appalachian states.

The Community Education Group received $50,000 grants each from Gilead Sciences and ViiV Healthcare to develop and distribute materials, offer grants and hold meetings aimed at reducing cultural stigmas and barriers related to the virus, the group said in a statement.

CEG will create and distribute monkeypox digital resource guides to more than 300 Appalachian health departments, along with rural healthcare associations and LGBTQ groups.

CEG also will accept applications for mini-grants from organizations in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, the statement said.

The virus has mainly spread among gay and bisexual men, though health officials continue to stress that anyone can be infected.

“One of the things that we realize with monkeypox is that we were asking people to have a conversation with a population of folks that they may not normally engage with,” CEG President and founder A. Toni Young said in a telephone interview. “And many of them want to have this conversation but just simply didn’t know how to.”

CEG wanted to be able to provide a toolkit “so that folks actually feel safe and free to access the care and services at our county health departments,” she said.

The Community Education Group, founded in 1994, is based in the Hardy County community of Lost City, with offices in Washington. It works to eliminate disparities in health outcomes and improve public health in disadvantaged populations and underserved communities.

WVU Student Tests Positive For Monkeypox; 8 Cases Statewide

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, West Virginia had eight confirmed cases of the virus as of Tuesday.

A West Virginia University student has tested positive for monkeypox, the university said Wednesday.

The student lives off campus and is isolating and recovering.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, West Virginia had eight confirmed cases of the virus as of Tuesday.

Monkeypox is spread through close, skin-to-skin contact. It is rarely life threatening but can produce a rash with pimples and blisters.

Symptoms can begin within three weeks of exposure and can last for two to four weeks.

W.Va. COVID-19 Deaths, Hospitalizations Up, Monkeypox Grows

A new Omicron-specific variant booster – expected to provide increased immunity – was approved in the United Kingdom this week.

A rise in West Virginia’s COVID-19 hospitalization and death counts is sparking hopes over a new variant booster on the way.

In his Thursday coronavirus briefing, Gov. Jim Justice read the names and home counties of 24 new COVID-19 fatalities, bringing the state’s total to 7,230.

The Department of Health and Human Resources COVID-19 Thursday dashboard showed 350 hospitalizations, a number creeping closer to the 500-patient threshold of staffing and bed availability concerns.

A new Omicron-specific variant booster – expected to provide increased immunity – was approved in the United Kingdom this week.

In Thursday’s briefing, West Virginia Public Health Officer Dr. Ayne Amjad said that specific variant vaccine, coming from both Pfizer and Moderna, is expected here sometime in the fall, perhaps September or October.

However, she said those eligible for their next booster shouldn’t wait.

“Because of the timing and the unknown,” Amjad said. “If you’re eligible right now or 50 and older to go ahead and get your fourth vaccine rather than waiting.”

Amjad said she is also still waiting for the new variant booster guidelines on age and dosage.

Regarding monkeypox, Amjad said there’s been one confirmed case in West Virginia and four more probable cases now being tested.

Amjad said there are approximately 700 vaccine doses available right now. She said the dose recommendations from the CDC have changed where one vial can now be used for five doses, so they are working on that vaccine strategy.

“We have given several health departments some monkeypox vaccines that they needed to use,” Amjad said. “We continue to work on that project as well to get more out there.”

Second Probable Monkeypox Case Detected In W.Va.

The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department detected the case and Gov. Jim Justice announced it during his Tuesday COVID-19 briefing.

A second probable case of monkeypox has been detected as of Monday.

The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department detected the case and Gov. Jim Justice announced it during his Tuesday COVID-19 briefing. Further information about the patient has not been released to respect the individual’s privacy.

State Health Officer Dr. Ayne Amjad says the threat that monkeypox poses to West Virginians is low. Vaccines are available, but are in short supply.

“Those vaccines are available for anyone who’s in close contact of a positive monkeypox case,” Amjad said. “If you have any concerns of fever, rash, you should contact your healthcare provider and then they can send those test results, if needed, to the local state lab.”

The announcement comes after the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a global public health emergency last Saturday. As of July 25, the CDC reports 18,095 cases in 75 countries.

The state’s first probable case was detected earlier this month in Berkeley County.

More information about monkeypox can be found on the Department of Health and Human Resources’ epidemiology website, including instructions on specimen collection and shipping directions, as well as a vaccine information sheet.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Charleston Area Medical Center and Marshall Health.

W.Va. Sees First Probable Case Of Monkeypox

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) confirmed Friday that initial testing has identified a probable case of the non-variola orthopox, commonly referred to as monkeypox, in a Berkeley County resident.

The DHHR is actively working to identify anyone who may have been exposed to the virus.

“Our state lab is able to test for monkeypox, said Dr. Ayne Amjad, the state health officer. “The CDC does confirm these cases as well but we still do have our first probable one.”

Amjad reminded West Virginians the risk of becoming infected is extremely low. She said when prompt care is sought for symptoms, the virus is containable.

“There is a vaccine for high risk individuals as well as health care providers who may come into contact – which is something as an option as well, that we are working on,” she said. “And, there are antiviral treatments for someone with monkeypox as well, if they are severely ill.”

Transmitted through close, prolonged contact with an infected individual, including skin lesions or body fluids, shared clothing or bedding; people can also become infected by the virus by inhaling respiratory droplets.

Symptoms include fever, body aches, chills and fatigue. In more serious cases, people may exhibit a rash and lesions.

West Virginia joins a growing list of states facing cases of the monkeypox virus. More than 600 cases have been confirmed nationwide.

The U.S. in recent weeks has taken a more aggressive approach to containing the virus. This includes access to vaccines, testing, and through educational efforts.

The World Health Organization indicates high risk populations, namely men who have sex with men, are becoming infected with monkeypox.

Of the 7,000 people diagnosed with the virus, only 10 of those are women and 25 are health care providers. Most people recover within two to four weeks. In rare cases, monkeypox can be fatal and result in more serious symptoms in children.