Incidents of monkeypox among Alaska residents remains low, but Alaska Department of Health officials have expressed concern over how fast it is spreading nationwide and advise people to get tested and vaccinated to prevent further transmission.
“While the risk of monkeypox for the general public remains low, this is a serious public health concern because of how quickly it is currently spreading in the United States,” said Dr. Joe McLaughlin, state epidemiologist and chief of the Section of Epidemiology. “Fortunately, we have the tools here in Alaska to help identify cases, prevent further transmission and treat infected people who are at risk for severe disease. We can slow the spread of this virus by detecting cases quickly and vaccinating those who are eligible to receive the vaccine,” he said.
Through the third week of August just three cases of monkeypox in Alaska were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An additional case was detected in a nonresident. Alaska resident cases can be tracked on the CDC’s case count map, https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/response/2022/us-map.html
Health department officials note that monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease, but it can spread through prolonged skin-to-skin contact. They advise discussing with sexual partner(s) about recent illnesses and to be aware of new or unexplained sores or rashes.
Alaskans should seek testing if they have signs and symptoms of monkeypox, even if they do not have a known exposure, to help detect cases as quickly as possible. People with suspected monkeypox are advised to keep their rash covered and to stay home while test results are pending. Alaskans should be aware that testing is widely available in many parts of the state. Contact your health care provider if you suspect monkeypox.
