By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
GREAT BEND — On Tuesday, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment sent local
health departments and providers a general overview of monkeypox, the latest
virus that is gaining attention. Referred to as a distant cousin of chickenpox,
monkeypox involves flu-like symptoms and a rash.
Barton County Health Director Karen Winkelman said there is a monkeypox vaccine
in countries where the virus is more prevalent, but it is not licensed in the United
States yet.
"There is a smallpox vaccine, and they think there is some protection
received from the smallpox vaccine for monkeypox," said Winkelman. "The
availability of that vaccine is very limited right now because smallpox
was eradicated. They're looking at the possibility of upping the
production of the smallpox vaccine."
Winkelman said there are currently about 15 cases of monkeypox in seven states in the United
States.
Routine vaccination against smallpox was stopped in the 1970s after the
disease was eradicated in the United States. Winkelman recalled years ago a
fear over smallpox arose where she was given a vaccination, but vaccines rarely
exist throughout the world today.
"I was one of the only members of the health department staff that
received the vaccine because I wanted to be as protected as possible if I
had to go out and do investigations," said Winkelman. "We also gave it
to a few community health workers at that time."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that many
individuals infected with monkeypox have mild effects without treatment.