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June
20, 2003
Little
Rock –
As
a precautionary measure, Arkansas Department of Health
Director Dr. Fay Boozman, has issued an emergency order
declaring monkeypox as a “Notifiable Disease and
Condition.” The state order (which can be viewed at www.healthyarkansas.com/monkeypox/mnkypxorder.pdf)
follows an embargo on the import and commerce of prairie
dogs and African rodents issued June 11 by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food
and Drug administration (FDA).
As
of June 12, 2003, the CDC reported 62 possible cases of
monkeypox among humans in four states. The disease may
be linked to infected prairie dogs, Gambian giant rats
and other African rodents traded recently as exotic pets
in the U.S. However, no animal or human cases of
monkeypox have been reported in Arkansas and CDC
investigations suggest that no infected animals reached
the state.
“While
the risk of monkeypox in our state is low, we believe
that the disease warrants this order that requires that
any case of monkeypox in the state be reported to the
Arkansas Department of Health,” Dr. Boozman said.
“Given the continuing threat of emerging diseases, it
is important that we have in place a policy for
reporting and tracking this disease in the unlikely
event that it reaches our state.”
Although
there have been no cases of monkeypox reported or
suspected to date in the state, Arkansans are being
asked to familiarize themselves with the disease and the
federal embargo. To that end, Arkansas Department of
Health (ADH) environmental health specialists are
contacting known pet stores, distributors and breeders.
“We
are reaching out to those in the pet industry in
Arkansas to ensure they know of and are following the
federal embargo,” Dr. Sharon Williams, Arkansas Public
Health Veterinarian, said. “We are there to answer any
questions that they might have and to assist.” (See
“Message to Pet Store Owners, Breeders, Distributors
and Veterinarians at www.healthyarkansas.com/monkeypox/mnkypxmessage.pdf.)
The
embargo prohibits the importation of rodents from Africa
and prohibits the transportation or offering for
transportation, or the sale or offering for sale, or
offering for any other type of commercial or public
distribution, including release into the environment, of
prairie dogs and the following rodents from Africa: tree
squirrels, rope squirrels, dormice, Gambian giant rats,
brush-tailed porcupines and striped mice.
The
order does not apply to individuals who transport the
listed animals to veterinarians or animal control
officers or other entities as instructed by state or
local authorities.
The
order is being issued because at least six different
species of potentially infected rodents have been
implicated in the current outbreak of monkeypox in
humans. According to the CDC, monkeypox virus was
transmitted from infected rodents to native prairie
dogs. Based on CDC research to date, specific
restrictions on the species are required to contain
further movement of implicated animals.
Human
monkeypox is a rare viral disease that occurs primarily
in the rain forest countries of central and West Africa.
It is primarily a disease of rodents, but does spread to
certain primates. An
extensive investigation has identified human cases with
fever and rash among persons who had direct or close
contact with recently purchased sick prairie dogs,
according to the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC).
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 that the virus could be introduced into
the natural wildlife system,” Dr. Williams said.
“That is why the CDC is asking persons in those states
with reported cases of monkeypox not to release sick
animals into the wild.”
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, headache,
backache, sore throat, cough 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 of
monkeypox.
According
to the CDC, limited person-to-person spread of infection
has been reported in Africa; 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, and no case has ever been reported in the
U.S. prior to the current outbreak.
Monkeypox
virus is related to the virus that causes smallpox and
smallpox vaccination is about 85 percent effective in
preventing monkeypox in people. Therefore the CDC is
recommending limited use of smallpox vaccine for:
-
public
health personnel in the field conducting monkeypox
investigations and health care workers treating
hospitalized and suspected cases of monkeypox;
-
family
or other very close household contacts of people
suspected of having monkeypox;
-
people
who have had contact with a sick prairie dog or
another animal 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 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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