FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 30, 2022
LAS VEGAS — The Southern Nevada Health District has received a report of a second case of monkeypox in a Clark County resident. The individual was diagnosed in another state. The case information was reported directly to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by another jurisdiction. As a result, the Health District is working with state and federal partners to collect information to determine if the case is probable or confirmed.
The individual is a male in his 30s that did not require hospitalization. He has returned to Clark County and is isolating at home. The Health District is in the initial stages of investigating the case and any contacts.
Monkeypox spreads from person to person through direct contact with the infectious sores, rash, or bodily fluids; through respiratory secretions during prolonged face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling or sex; or through touching items, such as linens, that have been used by someone who has monkeypox. Additionally, pregnant people can spread the virus to their fetus. Identified contacts are asked to monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days post exposure. People with unknown rashes or lesions should contact their health care provider for an assessment and avoid sex or being intimate during that time.
Monkeypox is a rare disease that causes symptoms beginning with fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion and swollen lymph nodes followed by development of a rash that can look like pimples or blisters. The incubation period is usually between seven to 14 days but can range from five to 21 days. The characteristic rash often begins on the face and then spreads to other parts of the body including genitalia. The illness typically lasts two to four weeks. Most people who contract monkeypox will have mild illness. People who are immunocompromised, young children, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and those with certain skin conditions may be more at risk for severe illness. People who test positive for monkeypox should follow the treatment and prevention recommendations of their health care provider and the Health District.
Recommendations for those who may have had contact with monkeypox virus are available on the CDC’s Exposure Risk Assessment and Public Health Recommendationspage. More information about monkeypox is available at www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.html.
The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.