Durham reports 1st case of Monkeypox, announces vaccinations. See who’s eligible.

Durham County confirmed its first case of monkeypox Tuesday morning.

The Durham County Department of Public Health reported the individual is currently in isolation and close contacts have been notified, according to a press release.

The department did not release any other identifying information in order to protect the patient’s privacy.

Monkeypox has been a rising concern as it continues to spread throughout the country. Currently, 900 cases have been confirmed in the United States.

There are now six confirmed cases in the state, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We have been working with the state and the CDC to track the spread of monkeypox for several weeks now, and we have been prepared to respond upon confirming our first case here in Durham,” said Rod Jenkins, the health director for Durham County, in a press release.

Jenkins said the county offered vaccinations to the individual’s close contacts.

Vaccine appointments now available in Durham

Durham County was one of the seven local health departments to receive doses of Jynneos, a vaccine used to prevent the spread of monkeypox. Appointments became available Tuesday morning.

The limited supply of the vaccine is only available to people who are eligible. This includes:

• People who have been 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.

Symptoms of monkeypox include a rash resembling pimples or blisters on the face, in the mouth, anus, genitals, hands or feet; fever, headache, exhaustion, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle aches or backache.

Individuals who have any symptoms or meet the criteria are instructed to call the Durham County Department of Public Health at 919-560-9217.

This story was originally published July 12, 2022 at 11:44 AM.

Kristen Johnson

The News & Observer

919-829-4532

Kristen Johnson is a local government reporter covering Durham for The News & Observer. She previously covered Cary and western Wake County. Prior to coming home to the Triangle, she reported for The Fayetteville Observer and spent time covering politics and culture in Washington, D.C. She is an alumna of UNC at Charlotte and American University.