Mpox is spreading in Texas, health officials say. Here’s how to protect yourself
The Mpox virus has spread in Texas, and health experts are advising people to protect themselves.
“Through the first 24 weeks of 2024, Texas has reported 152 pox cases, compared with 86 cases during the same period in 2023, representing a 76.7% increase,” according to a Texas Department of State Health Services press release.
Mpox is an infectious viral disease that can cause a painful rash, swollen lymph nodes, and a fever. It was once called Monkeypox before the World Health Organization renamed it in 2022.
What is Mpox symptoms & how does it spread
A rash on the hands, feet, chest, face, mouth, or near the genitals is one of the most common signs of Mpox. Other signs include chills, muscle aches, headaches, and respiratory problems.
The incubation time is 3 to 17 days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a person may not have symptoms and may feel fine at this time.
The Mpox infection is transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact with a rash or cuts from a person who has the infection. It can also spread through their saliva, snot, and body fluids. Long face-to-face interactions, like talking and breathing, can also cause it to spread.
Mpox can spread through infected animals by petting, cuddling, and sharing sleeping spaces or food. Scientists are still researching how often someone with no symptoms can spread the virus.
How to protect against Mpox
Testing for Mpox is currently only recommended if you have a rash that is consistent with the virus. If you are gay, bisexual, or a same-gender loving man who has had sex with men in the past six months and expects to have more than one sexual partner, the CDC recommends you get the Mpox JYNNEOS vaccine.
Vaccines are also recommended for people who have had sexual contact with a person who is at risk of Mpox or has it already. The CDC says Two doses of the vaccine will provide the best protection.
To avoid Mpox, the following steps are recommended:
- Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like Mpox and animals that carry the virus.
Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with Mpox has used.
Wash your hands often.
Get the vaccine.
Where do Mpox cases stand in Texas?
The first case of Mpox was identified in a Texas resident during the summer of 2021. Texas then reported 2,970 possible and confirmed cases of Mpox in 2022.
Cases have continued to be reported in Texas in 2023 and 2024, though at a slower rate. Chris Van Deusen, director of media relations for DSHS, said the state continues to see increased transmission compared with last year.
“People who are in high-risk groups, particularly men who have sex with men, should take steps to protect themselves by getting vaccinated, avoiding skin-to-skin contact with people who have an unexplained rash, and monitoring themselves for any evidence of Mpox infection,” Deusen said.
“That being said, the state has seen new cases decreasing somewhat over recent weeks, so hopefully that means people are taking those steps.”
This story was originally published August 16, 2024 at 10:12 PM.
