Monkeypox Vaccine Now Available To Select Groups In Loudoun County

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — The Loudoun County Health Department is now offering a post-exposure monkeypox vaccine to at-risk people, the health department announced on Monday.

Monkeypox is a virus with symptoms similar to smallpox but usually less mild. The first case of monkeypox was reported in 1970. While the illness is normally contained to central and west Africa often near tropical rainforests, an outbreak is affecting the U.S. in 2022.

As of Monday, there are 72 reported cases in Virginia, according to the Virginia Department of Health. On Saturday, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox as a global health emergency.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, monkeypox is mostly spreading through close, intimate contact with a person infected with monkeypox. Symptoms can last two to four weeks and may include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a rash that appears like pimples or blisters on the face, inside the mouth or other parts of the body. Symptoms may show up five days after infection or as late as 21 days later. The CDC noted monkeypox rarely causes death.

There are two FDA-approved vaccines to prevent monkeypox infection or reduce symptoms if given between four to 14 days after exposure. Due to limited supply, the Loudoun County Health Department is limiting vaccinations to people who are at risk of exposure.

Anyone who believes they may be at high-risk can fill out a screening with the health department. The screening questions are designed to determine if someone is at risk for exposure to monkeypox.

The screening includes questions on previous vaccines, direct contact with anyone with monkeypox, sexual orientation, number of sexual partners, and sex work. The CDC says sex workers and members of the LGBT community, especially people who are assigned male at birth who have sex with men, are at high risk for contracting monkeypox. However, anyone can contract the virus through close exposure, regardless of their sexuality.

Monkeypox vaccine supplies in Loudoun County are limited, though public health officials said widespread vaccinations are not recommended at this time.

Here are some CDC tips for preventing the spread of monkeypox:

• Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox.
• Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox.

• Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with monkeypox.
• Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox.
• Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox.
• If you are sick with monkeypox, isolate at home. If you have an active rash or other symptoms, stay in a room separate from others when possible. Wash hands often with soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

For more information, see the Virginia Department of Health or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention monkeypox web pages.