City of Laredo Health Department Confirms First Monkeypox Case in Laredo
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Aug 16, 2022, 0 Comments
Courtesy Eliseo Ceja,
LAREDO, Texas – The City of Laredo Health Department has confirmed the first case of Monkeypox in Laredo; a male in his late 20s. The individual is currently in isolation, following all recommended guidelines, in good health, and is recovering.
The Laredo Health Department Epidemiology team has conducted close contact tracing to ensure prevention, treatment, and response. All close contacts have been contacted and advised to visit with Laredo Health to obtain vaccination to prevent infection. As of Friday afternoon, Texas has 815 cases of monkeypox reported.
For more information about the Healthy Living/Viviendo Mejor program, as well as other sites for classes, please contact Fabiola Guerra, Project Coordinator at the City of Laredo Health Department at (956) 721-4994.
The Laredo Health Department wants to stress that the risk to the public remains low. Individuals should be aware of the symptoms of monkeypox and seek medical attention if they experience new, unexplained rashes or skin lesions.
Recently identified cases have involved skin lesions in the genital, groin, and anal regions, which may cause confusion with rashes caused by common diseases such as herpes and syphilis. Other early symptoms of monkeypox include fever, chills, and swollen lymph nodes.
“With cases on the rise across the nation and the state, we will continue to monitor this situation,” said Dr. Richard Chamberlain, Laredo Health Director. “Even though the disease is not easily transmitted, we encourage individuals to be aware of symptoms, continue to follow preventive measures, and consult with a healthcare provider if needed.”
