Mpox Cases Detected in Iowa: What You Need to Know
The highly contagious disease Mpox, known for causing severe rashes has now been detected in Iowa.
The Des Moines Register reports that the disease was detected at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility. The strain has been identified as clade 2, which is a more common and less severe form of the virus than clade 1 which is currently spreading throughout Africa but has yet to reach the United States. The World Health Organization has declared a global health emergency to deal with clade 1.
Department of Corrections officials say that they are "managing the situation with robust health measures" according to the Register. Infected individuals are receiving care and are isolated. It is not yet known how the prisoners were infected with Mpox. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, before the Fort Dodge detection, there had been no reported Mpox cases in Iowa this year.
Mpox was previously called monkeypox because it was discovered first in primates. However, the Register reports that monkeys are not the source of infection, and the name was changed to Mpox. The disease is spread through physical contact and bodily fluids. The Register reports that infections are usually mild and symptoms can mimic the flu, with the addition of pus-filled legions on the skin. A vaccine is available and is highly effective, according to the CDC.
