GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. — An individual has tested positive for monkeypox in Guilford County, according to a spokesperson for the Guilford County Health Department.
Spokesperson Kenya Smith Godette said the individual who tested positive is not a resident of Guilford County so the case will not be reported within the county.
"(Monkeypox is) no cause for panic or concern or anything like that," Godette said. "Monkeypox is not deadly, as far as we know, and we are doing as much as we can to get as much information as we can."
North Carolina has received doses of the vaccine with 460 doses going to Forsyth County. Durham, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, Pitt, Buncombe, and Wake counties are also getting doses.
"Those seven health departments were chosen one, because of their geography and the capacity to handle the vaccine," said Joshua Swift, the Forsyth County Public Health Director.
The Guilford County Health Department said the state is reviewing more counties and Guilford could be one of them.
"We are feeling good and we are confident that if we do need to get any (vaccine) it will be a pretty quick process," Godette said. "We’ve already been in talks with Forsyth County and everyone is on standby in case we do need some."
There are two monkeypox vaccines, the Jynneos vaccine which is a two-dose vaccination given 28 days apart, and the older ACAM2000. However, officials say the ACAM2000 has more risks of side effects and cannot be used for people with HIV.
Who can get vaccinated?
Health officials reiterate that anyone can contract monkeypox, but only certain groups are eligible to get the vaccine right now.
You are eligible for the monkeypox vaccine if:
- You have come in close physical contact with someone diagnosed with monkeypox.
- Men who have sex with men, or transgender individuals, who have had multiple or anonymous sex partners in the last 14 days in either a venue where monkeypox was present or in an area where the virus is spreading. Currently, this includes several locations in Europe and parts of California, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and Texas.
North Star LGBTQ Community Center in Winston-Salem is hosting a vaccine clinic on Tuesday, July 26th from 4-7 p.m. They do have a limited number of vaccines so appointments are required.
Board members of the organization hope the vaccine becomes more widely available soon.
"We do believe that all communities should be eligible for this vaccine, especially since we are in the early days we want to get in front of this as quickly as possible and that limiting availability to these communities can lead to further stigmatization of the LGBTQ community," said Spencer Foster, a board member of North Star.
Foster said the health department has assured them if there is enough interest in their clinic they can get more vaccines for another event.
"We want to make sure that we offer as much as we can for the LGBTQ community, particularly through STI testing and other health resources so this is just a natural progression for us to be able to offer this to our community," Foster said.
North Star already has a relationship with the health department to offer free STI testing.
What is monkeypox?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. The Orthopoxvirus genus also includes variola virus (which causes smallpox), vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox vaccine), and cowpox virus. Monkeypox is not related to chickenpox."
What are the symptoms?
The virus can cause flu-like symptoms but also rash or lesions that can spread throughout the body.
How does it spread?
The CDC says monkeypox does not easily transmit among people, but anyone can get it and it can happen through direct skin-to-skin contact, having contact with an infectious rash, body fluids, or respiratory secretions.
Health officials said it can also pass between people through contaminated items like bed linens.
Anyone can get monkeypox, it's not limited to one group of people.