As WHO declares emergency, how many cases of monkeypox are in Texas, Dallas-Fort Worth?

On July 23, the World Health Organization chief declared that the expanding monkeypox outbreak in more than 79 countries is an “extraordinary” situation that qualifies as a global emergency.

As of Monday, there were 5,189 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At least 351 cases have been confirmed in Texas, according to a CDC map updated Friday. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, the North Texas area has reported the most cases of any region in the state.

As of Monday, 29 cases had been reported in Tarrant County, according to Tarrant County Public Health.

Dallas County has confirmed 129 cases as of Friday, according to that county’s health department. There are also 12 suspected cases.

Denton County reported six new cases Monday, bringing the total to 10.

Monkeypox, classified as a rare disease by the CDC, is a variant of the same virus that causes smallpox. It doesn’t spread easily between people without close, skin-to-skin contact.

It can spread through contact with sores, body fluids or shared items (such as clothing and bedding) that have been contaminated with fluids or sores of a person with monkeypox. The virus can also spread between people through respiratory droplets, typically in a close setting such as people living in the same household or in a healthcare setting..

This infection presents symptoms including a rash, lesions, swollen lymph nodes, fever and scabbing, according to the CDC.

Severity of the infection depends on the health of the person prior to exposure, the strain of the virus and the way in which they were infected. Incubation is typically seven to 14 days and the infection typically lasts two to three weeks.

It can, in some cases, be fatal, although no deaths have been reported in the U.S.

A global emergency is WHO’s highest level of alert but the designation does not necessarily mean a disease is particularly transmissible or lethal, the Associated Press reported.

There is a vaccine for monkeypox, but its availability is limited and demand in Texas is outpacing the supply, the Texas Tribune reported.

This story was originally published July 23, 2022 at 5:27 PM.