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June
12, 2003
Little
Rock –
There are no reported or suspect cases of monkeypox in
Arkansas but Arkansas Department of Health (ADH)
officials are asking physicians, exotic pet owners and
veterinarians to become familiar with symptoms of the
disease.
Human
monkeypox is a rare zoonotic viral disease that occurs
primarily in the rain forest countries of central and
West Africa. An
extensive multidisciplinary investigation has identified
cases of a fever and rash illness in persons who had
direct or close contact with recently purchased ill
prairie dogs, according to the Centers for Disease and
Prevention (CDC).
As
of June 11, the CDC reported 54 cases of monkeypox
infection in humans reported from four states: Wisconsin
(20), Indiana (23), Illinois (10) and New Jersey (1).
Approximately 10 of those people were hospitalized. No
animal or human cases of monkeypox have been reported in
Arkansas and CDC investigations suggest that no infected
animals reached the state.
Persons
who have acquired a prairie dog or small rodent as a
household pet since April 15, 2003, should monitor their
animals for signs of illness. Signs of monkeypox include
cold-like symptoms, running or oozing eyes, respiratory
disease and a rash. If animals have these symptoms,
please contact your veterinarian or Dr. Sharon Williams,
Arkansas Public Health Veterinarian, at 501.661.2477
(after hours and weekends, 501.661.2136).
“A
major concern is accidentally introducing the disease
into the natural wildlife system,” Dr. Williams said.
“That is why the CDC is asking persons in those states
with reported cases of monkeypox to not release sick
animals into the wild.”
Additionally,
the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration issued a
joint order prohibiting the import of rodents from
Africa and banning the distribution, sale and transport
of prairie dogs and six species of African rodents
within the United States, effective June 11, 2003.
In
humans, the illness produces a rash similar to that of
smallpox. Other signs and symptoms include a
temperature of at least 99.3 degrees, headaches,
backaches, sore throat, coughing and shortness of breath
for persons who have been:
- exposed
to an exotic mammalian pet obtained on or after
April 15, 2003, with clinical signs of illness;
- exposed
to an exotic mammalian pet with or
without clinical signs of illness that has been in
contact with a case of monkeypox either in a
mammalian pet or a human; or
- exposed
to a suspect, probable, or confirmed human case.
According
to the CDC, limited person-to-person spread of infection
has been reported in portions of Africa where the
disease has been confirmed in animals; the incubation
period is about 12 days. In
Africa, monkeypox is fatal in as many as 10 percent of
people who get the disease. There are no deaths in the U.S. to date attributed to the disease.
Because
monkeypox is related to smallpox and the smallpox
vaccination is about 85 percent effective in preventing
monkeypox in people, the CDC is recommending limited use
of the vaccine for:
- public
health personnel in the field conducting related
investigations; health care workers treating those
hospitalized and suspected of having monkeypox;
- family
or other very close household contacts of people
suspected of having monkeypox; and
- people
who have had contact with a sick prairie dog or
other animal that's been confirmed to have monkeypox.
As
there are no reported or suspect cases of monkeypox in
the state, the use of smallpox vaccination in Arkansas
is not recommended at this time.
ADH
has activated its automated public health phone line,
which includes information about monkeypox. The toll
free number is 1.877.296.9555 or in the Little
Rock area 296.9555. For
updated information about monkeypox, visit the CDC
website at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/monkeypox/index.htm
or call the CDC at 888.246.2675,
Español 888.246.2857, TTY 866.874.2646
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