By John Schwing

Following federal health officials’ Aug. 4 declaration that the monkeypox virus a “national health emergency,” two area healthcare providers are among 15 centers across the state being allotted the limited supply of vaccine to people who meet qualifying criteria.

As of Monday, 59 cases of the virus were reported in Connecticut, according to the federal Centers for Disease control, more than double the number of cases (28) reported at the end of July.

A total of 11,890 monkeypox cases have been reported nationwide over the last several months, with nearby New York recording the largest number — 2,376 — of any state, the CDC says. In New York City, the Health Department says cases “are increasing, and there are likely many more cases that have not been diagnosed.”

Cases have been reported in Fairfield County and at least four other counties in Connecticut, according to the state Department of Public Health. Given the state’s proximity to the New York outbreak, the number of Connecticut cases is expected to continue rising, particularly in the southwestern corner of the state where travel to New York is routine.

“We’ve seen over the last many weeks how this infection has expanded its scope and started to affect the citizens of Connecticut,” said Dr. Manisha Juthani, Connecticut’s public health commissioner. 

“Anybody who has skin-to-skin contact with somebody who has had monkeypox could potentially get monkeypox. This is not primarily a respiratory disease. It is one that with prolonged face to face contact with somebody is possible, but it’s primarily transmitted by skin-to-skin,” Juthani said.

Fifteen healthcare providers in the state are now administering a monkeypox vaccine to qualifying people without a referral from a doctor or the health department. People seeking the vaccine can consult with their primary care doctor or call a health center directly to schedule an appointment.

Appointments are required; the vaccine is not available to walk-ins.

The two clinics closest to Westport are:

Circle Care Center, 618 West Ave., Norwalk.

Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, 4697 Main St., Bridgeport.

The full list of state health centers that have the limited vaccine supplies is listed on the state Department of Public Health website.

Monkeypox inoculations, the state says, are available to meet people who meet all of the following criteria:

• Gay or bisexual men or others who have sex with men, and/or transgender, gender non-conforming or gender non-binary.
• Have had multiple or anonymous sex partners in the past 14 days.
• 18 years old and over.
• A resident of Connecticut.

The vaccine is given in a two-dose series, according to the DPH. It takes 14 days after getting the second dose of “JYNNEOS” vaccine for its immune protection to reach maximum strength. People should take precautions to reduce their exposure to monkeypox until immune protection from vaccines has reached its maximum. 

People who have had monkeypox likely have some protection against a second infection and are currently not eligible to be vaccinated, health officials said.

Monkeypox can spread through prolonged close contact with an infected person. This might include contact with skin lesions or bodily fluids, sharing clothes or other materials that have been used by an infected person, or inhaling respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face contact.

Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, exhaustion, muscle ache and back ache, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that can look like pimples or blisters and shows up on the face, hands, feet, chest, genitals or inside of the mouth.

Those who have monkeypox should isolate until rashes have fully resolved, scabs have fallen off and a fresh layer of skin has formed, health officials said. 

Infected people should avoid close physical contact with others, wear a mask around others in the home, and avoid sharing potentially contaminated items, such as bed linens, clothing, towels and eating utensils.

More information about monkeypox is posted on the state DPH website.

With additional reporting by the CTMirror.org.