Second monkeypox case identified in state resident

August 29, 2022

The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) has announced the confirmation of a second case of monkeypox in a Teton County resident.

Dr. Alexia Harist, state health officer and WDH epidemiologist, said follow-up of the adult man did not show an increased risk of the virus to the community.

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.

“I want people to realize that monkeypox is spread through close contact and doesn’t spread as easily as common viruses like influenza or COVID-19,” Harist said.

According to Harist, steps to reduce your risk of monkeypox include:

• 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.

“Although anyone can get monkeypox, vaccination is especially recommended for people who have had monkeypox and who are likely to get monkeypox based on the current spread of the epidemic. I recommend it,” said Harist.

The following people are eligible for preexposure vaccination if they live or work in Wyoming:

• Men who 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.

Vaccine doses are provided free of charge by the federal government through states, but a small administration fee may be charged.

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).

For Wyoming-related information and the latest information on monkeypox, visit

https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/infectious-disease-epidemiology-unit/disease/monkeypox/.