Mpox, originally known as Monkeypox, is a virus that has seen a world-wide rise in cases and public interest over the past couple of months. While it is not 2021 and Covid, it is still a public health issue. One of the factors pushing this increase in worry is a lack of knowledge about just what Mpox is. Here in Gretna, if a person does not know what the virus is then they will find it difficult to know whether they should worry or not.
“It’s hard saying (if this would become covid part two),” Kristin Newton, the school nurse at GHS said. “There is already a vaccine (for Mpox), but I don’t think we use it so prevalently, because it’s more of a disease we see in Africa.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Common symptoms of Mpox are a skin rash or mucosal lesions, which can last 2 – 4 weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.” Just over 1,100 cases have been reported in the United States, according to a recent Centers for Disease Control statement.
As of right now, there have been no cases of the virus in Nebraska. However, just recently, Mpox was detected among inmates at a correctional facility in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
CNA teacher, and registered nurse, Kim Wasalaski said that, unless the virus comes to Nebraska, she is not concerned about it. People who are immunosuppressed, she said, may have concerns.
“I encourage people to wash hands, keep good hygiene and keep immunity up,” Wasalaski said. Newton agrees.
“Be mindful of covering your cough and sneeze and washing your hands or hand sanitizing afterwards so you don’t spread whatever you have,” Newton said. This advice is applicable for cold and flu season as well.
