More Monkeypox Cases Identified Among State Residents

September 27, 2022

The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) has announced new cases of monkeypox in Wyoming residents in recent days.

New cases were confirmed in an adult male in Natrona County and an adult male in Campbell County. The cases are unrelated and are not believed to pose a significant additional risk to the community at this time.

Monkeypox is characterized by a rash with other symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. Monkeypox is rarely fatal, but it can be uncomfortable and painful, and can cause serious illness in some people.

Monkeypox is spread through close intimate contact. Here are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of monkeypox:

• Talk to your intimate partner about monkeypox symptoms and be alert for new or unexplained rashes or lesions. should not be used and should be seen by a healthcare provider.
• Consider limiting the number of one-time or anonymous sex partners to reduce potential exposure.
• Condoms may offer some protection against monkeypox, but they may not prevent all exposures, as rashes may occur on other areas of the body.

WDH recommends vaccination for people who have had monkeypox or who are likely to contract the virus. If you live or work in Wyoming, the following people are eligible for pre-exposure vaccination:

• Men who have had sex with men and had multiple or anonymous sexual partners in the past year
• Men’s partners who had sex with men who had multiple or anonymous sexual partners in the past year
• Transgender and nonbinary persons assigned male at birth who have had sex with a male or multiple or anonymous sexual partners who are male within the past year
• sex workers (regardless of gender)

Eligible individuals interested in immunization appointments should contact Public Health. County public health department contact information can be found at https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/nursing/phn-co-offices/. Wyoming residents can also call WDH at 307-777-6004 to find the nearest public health department.

Detailed facts and recommendations, including pictures of rashes, are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.html).

Wyoming-related information and updates on monkeypox can be found at https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/infectious-disease-epidemiology-unit/disease/monkeypox/.