BUTTE COUNTY, CA (MPG) – Butte County Public Health (BCPH) has received lab notification of the first probable case of monkeypox in a Butte County resident. While the current risk to the general public remains low, BCPH encourages residents to be aware of the signs and symptoms of the virus.

A regional public health laboratory conducted the initial testing that identified this probable case of monkeypox. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is conducting confirmatory testing. 

To reduce the risk of further spread, BCPH is working to identify, contact, and monitor all close contacts of this probable case who may be at risk of acquiring monkeypox.   

Monkeypox is a rare, viral infection spread through close, personal contact including kissing, sex, and other skin-to-skin contact. Monkeypox may also be spread by sharing items such as towels, bedding and clothing or through respiratory droplets associated with prolonged face-to-face contact. The virus can be acquired by all people, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.

Most cases of monkeypox resolve on their own and rarely require hospitalization. To date, no deaths in the United States have occurred due to the virus.

“Monkeypox is much less contagious than COVID-19 and does not easily spread between people with casual contact,” said Dr. David Canton, Butte County Public Health Officer. “Even with the low public risk of monkeypox, it’s important to be aware of the signs of infection. Anyone with symptoms should stay home and contact their health care provider right away.”

Symptoms of monkeypox may start with a flu-like illness, including fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. However, not all persons have symptoms before the rash develops.  Within 1 to 3 days (sometimes longer), infected persons can develop a rash that can look like pimples. These may appear anywhere on the body, including the genitals or they may be limited to one part of the body. The incubation period (time from infection to symptoms) for monkeypox is usually 7−14 days but can range from 5−21 days. The illness can spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed, which can take 2−4 weeks.

How to protect others:

Anyone who has symptoms or has been in close contact with someone diagnosed with monkeypox should:

Stay home if you are feeling sick; Contact a healthcare provider for evaluation and inform the provider that you have been in close contact with a person with Monkeypox; Avoid skin to skin contact with others; Inform sex partners about any symptoms you are experiencing; Cover the rash with clean, dry, loose-fitting clothing; Wear a well-fitting mask around others; Wash hands often.

How to protect yourself:

Talk to close physical contacts about their general health, including recent rashes or sores; Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox; Don’t share or handle bedding, linens or clothing of a person with monkeypox; Wash hands often.

Monkeypox Vaccination

On July 14, BCPH received the county’s first allocation of the monkeypox vaccine. BCPH will identify persons who may be high risk, close contacts of confirmed cases and determine their vaccine eligibility. The CDC recommends vaccination for persons considered to be a high risk for monkeypox due to their exposure level and/or their underlying health conditions.  Because of the long incubation period for monkeypox, the vaccine can be used to help prevent development of disease in exposed persons as well as protect people prior to exposure. The vaccine can reduce the risk of illness if given within four days after exposure and may reduce the risk of serious illness if given after 4 days but no later than 14 days after exposure. The sooner the vaccine is administered after exposure, the more likely it is to work. At this time, due to limited supplies, vaccination of exposed persons and persons at occupational risk of exposure are prioritized. As more vaccine becomes available, BCPH will work to ensure that local providers are able to offer the vaccine and that it will be made available for pre-exposure protection for persons at high risk of exposure.   

More information about the virus and how to limit infection risk can be found on the California Department of Public Health Monkeypox website.