Soul of the Blues

 

ASHEVILLE, NC – July 22, 2022 – The first case of monkeypox has been identified in Buncombe County on July 21^st. Public Health Director, Stacie Saunders said that “Monkeypox cases continue to rise across the country. While this is the first case in Buncombe County, with increasing national and statewide trends, it is likely there are more exposures and potential cases yet to be identified. It is very important to be aware of the symptoms of monkeypox and to seek out testing if you have any symptoms.” As of July 22^nd, there have been 27 monkeypox cases in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

The Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services (BCHHS) recommends that a person should get evaluated by a health care provider for a close contact to someone with monkeypox or for symptoms or physical signs. Tests can be performed by having a health care professional swab a skin lesion (a rash or sore). Samples must be sent to only those labs able to perform the analysis such as a public health lab and select commercial labs.

There is a limited supply of monkeypox vaccine that is available for treatment. The Biden administration is making a concerted effort to procure more monkeypox vaccine. The vaccine must be administered within 14 days of exposure. The BCHHS has the vaccine for administration at their office, at no charge, and at Community Health Clinics. The BC health department can transfer doses to other health departments in Western North Carolina. One hundred doses have already been sent to other regional providers. As of July 24^th, Buncombe County has immunized 60 people, according to Stacie Saunders.

 

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Contact: Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

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GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – July 23, 2022 – Monkeypox is a communicable disease that has recently spread to more than 70 countries and has infected more than 16 thousand people. There has been almost three thousand people infected in the United States. The World Health Organization has declared the disease a global public health emergency, following in the footsteps of COVID-19 two years ago. The virus is related to the virus that causes smallpox. Monkeypox was discovered in 1958 after outbreaks of the disease occurred in laboratory monkeys. However, the source of the disease is unknown. The virus can reside in African rodents and non-human primates and can infect people. The first human infection was identified in the 1970’s. Up until the recent 2022 outbreak, monkeypox has been endemic in central Africa (a more severe strain) and western Africa (a milder strain that is rarely fatal). Cases outside of Africa were related to human travel or through the export of animals. The recent worldwide outbreak, in countries that have not historically reported the disease, is from the milder West African strain.

Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms but milder. They can include: fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, and chills followed by a rash. The rash, from a few lesions to thousands, can appear like pimples or fluid-filled blisters before scabbing over. The illness can last from 2 to 4 weeks until the scabs fall off.

The disease can spread from contact with an infected person or infected animal although not at the rapid transmission rate of COVID-19. An infected person can spread it from the beginning of their symptoms until the rash has completely healed. The virus is primarily spread through direct skin-to-skin contact with the rash, scabs or bodily fluids. It can also spread by prolonged breathing of respiratory droplets or by having contact with items, like clothing or bedsheets, that has previously touched the rash or infected bodily fluids. Most of the monkeypox cases outside of Africa during the recent outbreak have been spread through contact among men who have had sex with men. However, women and children can develop monkeypox with direct contact with an infected person. The time from exposure to the first symptoms can range from 4 to 21 days.

People can prevent getting monkeypox by avoiding close, skin-to-skin contact with infected persons and by not touching items that have been contaminated by an infected individual. Standard detergents and household cleaners are effective at decontaminating bedsheets, clothing and surfaces. Frequent hand sanitation can also reduce the risk of transmission. Infected persons need to isolate at home away from others including pets. All skin rashes need to be covered.

Vaccines and antiviral drugs are available. They are stored in the United States government stockpile in case of a bioterrorism attack with smallpox. Widespread smallpox vaccination has been stopped since the 1980’s with the eradication of smallpox. These vaccines are also effective for the prevention and treatment of monkeypox. This is not the case for the coronavirus vaccine which can only be used for the prevention of disease. The CDC recommends that a person get the vaccine within 2 weeks of exposure to monkeypox. The vaccine is also for people at a high risk of being exposed, for example, laboratory, healthcare and public health workers (who may handle specimens or are exposed to infected patients) and persons having multiple sex partners or anonymous sex. Vaccination within 4 days from exposure may prevent the onset of the disease; administration between day 4 and 14 after exposure may reduce the symptoms.

 

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Contact: Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

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ASHEVILLE, NC – July 28, 2022 – The CDC reports that the transmission level for Buncombe County is medium for the week ending July 28^th. Most of North Carolina is high. For a community at a medium transmission level, the CDC recommends:

• Wear a mask on public transportation.
• You may choose to wear a mask at any time as an additional precaution to protect yourself and others.
• If you are at high risk for severe illness, consider wearing a mask indoors in public and take additional precautions.

The Buncombe County COVID-19 metrics are on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard. Data from the week ending on July 23^rd indicate:

• There have been 215 cases per 100,000 residents in the last 7 days up from 199 cases from the previous week.
• 66% of the total population have received their full primary vaccination series. This is unchanged for over 4 months.
• 65% of people with their full primary vaccination series have had at least one booster. This is unchanged over the past 3 weeks.
• The seven-day daily average of COVID-19 hospitalizations is 60 and has increased by 3% since last week and of ICU patients is 7 and unchanged since the previous week.
• Wastewater surveillance may provide an early warning before individual testing shows that COVID-19 is spreading. The state dashboard reports that the 15-day rate of change of viral load for the Metropolitan Sewer District for Buncombe County is moderately increasing for the time period ending July 20^th. The CDC website reports mildly decreasing for the time period ending July 26^th.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends:

• Get vaccinated and boosted when eligible.
• People with any COVID symptoms or exposure to someone with COVID should get tested
• People who are positive for COVID-19 or do not feel well should stay home

Vaccination sites and testing sites can be located through the North Carolina and Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services.

Save your face masks:

• The risk level may rise with a new variant
• A person at high risk for severe illness should speak with their health care provider
• Mask wearing is recommended for persons with a positive test, having symptoms, or exposure to someone with COVID-19
• Effective May 4, 2022, the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services and the CDC recommend wearing masks in health care and long-term care settings. The N95 or KN95 mask offers the best protection. Wear a mask that is well-fitting.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour