Monkeypox In Georgia: More Than A Dozen Cases Reported

GEORGIA — At least 13 cases of monkeypox have been reported in Georgia as of Wednesday morning — an increase of five more cases compared to last week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The first confirmed Georgia case was detected in June in a metro Atlanta man with a history of international travel, according to health officials.

Monkeypox is a rare but potentially serious viral illness that typically spreads by skin-to-skin contact, according to the CDC. Infections can cause flu-like symptoms as well as swelling of the lymph nodes and a rash. The rash usually contains bumps that initially fill with fluid before scabbing over.

With more monkeypox cases being reported across the country and globally, orthopoxvirus vaccines are being made more readily available to those most at risk in the U.S., according to federal public health officials.

Georgia Department of Public Health spokesperson Nancy Nydam told Patch Thursday that DPH has been notified that the state's first allocation will include 1,284 vaccines.

"We are still working out the details of how and where it will be disseminated but will have more definitive plans in the next few days for administering vaccine," Nydam said.

The CDC does not recommend "widespread vaccination against monkeypox," Nydam said.

“Vaccination may be recommended for people who are close personal contacts of people with monkeypox, individuals who may have been exposed to monkeypox, or people who have increased risk of being exposed to the virus such as lab workers. Individuals are urged to speak with their healthcare provider if they are in one of those groups."

There are 6,924 known cases of monkeypox globally, including 559 cases in the United States, according to the CDC.