Bay Co. resident tests positive for monkeypox

BAY CO., Mich. (WNEM) - One Bay County resident has tested positive for monkeypox, according to the Bay County Health Department.

This is the first monkeypox case reported in mid-Michigan.

The resident is not currently in Bay County and it appears there were no close contacts in this case, according to Bay County Health Officer Joel Strasz. The individual is isolating but recovering, Strasz said.

MPV is contagious when a rash is present and up until scabs have fallen off, according to MDHHS.

Symptoms generally appear one to two weeks after exposure and infection, and the rash often lasts two to four weeks, according to MDHHS.

Persons experiencing MPV symptoms should contact their health care provider for evaluation.

While many of those affected in the current global outbreaks are men who have sex with men, anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox can get the illness, according to MDHHS.

Strasz advises anyone showing symptoms should get with their provider or doctor. If you are a close contact, the Bay County Health Department can provide a vaccine.

“Folks need to understand is that there is the opportunity for monkeypox to spread,” Strasz said.

He said the disease can spread to anyone through close contact with an infected person.

“If you’re in a room with someone, you’re not going to get monkeypox. There’s concern about surfaces and things like that, but you really need that skin to skin contact over a sustained long period of time,” Strasz said.

The key indicator of monkeypox is a rash that looks like pimples or blisters.

“When a person has monkey packs and they do exhibit physical symptoms of it. It’s very painful disease. It’s not like you know you’ve got a cold and it’s just an inconvenience. You know, once the pustules appear it’s very very painful,” Strasz said.

Strasz said anyone in close contact with someone with monkeypox should immediately get vaccinated.

The Bay County Health Department this week was designated a regional hub for monkeypox immunizations.

“We can distribute vaccines we can also provide vaccines to people that are in need,” Strasz said.

The state health department is tracking 77 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Michigan.

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