There are 25 cases of Monkeypox in Michigan as of July 26, 2022, according to MDHHS, mostly in the southeast side of the state.
According to the CDC, monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, which is part of the same family of viruses as variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder, and monkeypox is rarely fatal.
How and when to test for monkeypox
If you think you have monkeypox or have had close personal contact with someone who has monkeypox you should visit your healthcare provider.
Symptoms of monkeypox can include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches and backache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Chills
- Exhaustion
- A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus.
The rash goes through different stages before healing completely. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. Sometimes, people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience a rash.
What to do if you have symptoms
You should talk to your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of monkeypox.
Avoid close contact with others until you are examined. You should also avoid close contact with your pets or other animals.
If your test is positive, you should stay isolated until your rash is healed, all scabs have fallen off and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed.
How does monkeypox spread?
It can spread through direct contact with infectious rash, scabs or bodily fluids. It can also spread during prolonged face-to-face contact or during sex. Pregnant people can spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta.
It can spread through items that have touched the infectious rash or body fluids (clothing or linens). It is possible for people to get monkeypox from infected animals either by being scratched or bitten, eating meat or using products from the infected animal.
If you do not have symptoms you cannot spread the virus. Monkeypox can spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks.
How to lower your risk at parties, clubs, festivals
If you plan on attending a party, club or festival the CDC suggests considering how much close, personal, skin-to-skin contact is likely to occur. If you feel sick or have a rash do not attend any gathering.
Festivals, events, and concerts where attendees are fully clothed and unlikely to share skin-to-skin contact are safer.
If you’re at a party where there is minimal clothing and there is direct, personal contact, avoid any rash you see on others. Try to minimize skin-to-skin contact.
There is a higher likelihood of spreading monkeypox in enclosed spaces where there is anonymous physical contact with multiple people.
