Texas

Monkeypox dashboard shows current cases of the virus in San Antonio, Bexar County

September 15, 2022
Mary Claire Patton

SAN ANTONIO – Metro Health has created an online dashboard to show the current number of monkeypox cases in Bexar County.

As of September 14, Metro Health is reporting 50 positive cases.

The first confirmed monkeypox cases in Texas were reported in early June and the rare viral disease has now been reported in several counties, including Bexar.

Monkeypox is part of the same family of viruses that cause smallpox, according to the CDC.

Symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion and a rash that resembles pimples or blisters that appear on your face, inside of your mouth and other parts of your body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals or anus, the CDC website states.

The rash goes through different stages before it heals completely and the illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks.

Sometimes, people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms, while others only experience a rash, according to the CDC.

Monkeypox can be spread to anyone, regardless of sexual orientation and travel history.

Metro Health suggests the following to prevent the spread of monkeypox:

Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact in large crowds where people are wearing minimal clothing (such as nightclubs, festivals, raves, saunas, and bathhouses).
Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with someone with a new, unexplained rash.
If you were exposed to monkeypox or have symptoms such as fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes and a new, unexplained rash, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Healthcare providers can provide testing and care for people with monkeypox.
If sick with monkeypox, isolate at home until the rash has fully resolved, the scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed. Monkeypox is usually a self-limiting infection that does not require hospitalization.

A CDC map shows current active cases of monkeypox in Texas.

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