As of Monday morning (6AM on 08/01/2022), the CDC confirmed 5,189 cases of monkeypox across the United States. That count has risen by 1,702 cases over the past 6-days.

In Tennessee, the number of new cases has climbed by 8 in the past 6-days, now standing at 26-confirmed monkeypox cases (08/01/22 @ 6AM).  

There are 520 confirmed cases in the states that neighbor Tennessee. The CDC reports Georgia has the highest number of cases in the southern states that border Tennessee with 351 confirmed cases. Mississippi has the least at only 3-confirmed cases of monkeypox, as of Monday morning at 6AM (08/01/22).

There is a limited supply of the monkeypox vaccine in Tennessee, where the Department of Health says they are offering the vaccine to those who have had known contact with anyone infected by the virus. Presumed contacts who meet certain criteria are also eligible to receive the vaccine in the Volunteer State. Learn more details about the Monkeypox Vaccine in Tennessee HERE.

According to the Tennessee Department of Health, Monkeypox is a rare but potentially serious viral illness. Although infection may begin with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion before the development of rash, many of the cases associated with the 2022 outbreak have reported very mild or no symptoms other than rash. In some cases, rash and lesions have been limited to the genitourinary area. The characteristic lesions are deep-seated, vesicular or pustular with a centrifugal distribution; the lesions are well circumscribed and often umbilicate or become confluent, progressing over time to scabs. The rash can be disseminated. The illness typically lasts for 2-4 weeks.

(CDC) How Monkeypox Spreads - The virus can spread from person-to-person through (Visit CDC Here):
• Direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids
• respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex
• Touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids
• Pregnant people can spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta

It’s also possible for people to get monkeypox from infected animals, either by being scratched or bitten by the animal or by preparing or eating meat or using products from an infected animal.

Monkeypox can spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. People who do not have monkeypox symptoms cannot spread the virus to others. At this time, it is not known if monkeypox can spread through semen or vaginal fluids.

Monkeypox virus can be transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, monkeypox sores, items that have been contaminated with fluids or sores from an infected person, or through respiratory droplets following face-to-face contact. The incubation period, the time between exposure to the virus and when the illness begins is 7-14 days.

Initial symptoms include:
• Fever
• Flu-like illness
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Fatigue
• Rash

Symptoms usually begin 1 to 3 days before a rash develops on the body, however symptoms other than rash may not always be present. 

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