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Health officials have said that children and employees at an Illinois daycare center are now being tested for monkeypox by health officials.
Rantoul daycare, Illinois was the third Champaign County case to be confirmed. This prompted health care staff to screen anyone who might have been exposed at the facility.
Dr. Sameer Vohra, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), stated that a Rantoul adult has been diagnosed with monkeypox. “Screenings are currently being done on children and staff, but no additional cases have been discovered.”
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District confirmed that no additional positive cases were found.
NEW YORK CITY, ILLINOIS DECLARE STATE OF EMERGENCY OVER MONKEYPOX
Julie Pryde, CUPHD administrator, encouraged people to wash their hands regularly and provided a vaccine for anyone who believes they might have been exposed during a Friday news conference.
“Monkeypox cannot be spread by air. It is spread mainly through skin-toskin contact. It can spread through droplets in prolonged close contact or contact with items that could have been contaminated, such as towels and bedding,” Pryde stated. It’s a virus, and they don’t discriminate in who they affect.
“It’s the same things we always say and the main thing that you do is to wash your hands well,” she said. “If someone is suffering from a condition, we can provide specific instructions on how you can isolate the patient safely in your home.
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DECLARES: MONKEYPOX A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
“We are offering the vaccine to anyone who has been exposed. Pryde said that vaccines are being offered to anyone exposed to this situation, including any children, contacts, family members or relatives.
The Biden administration declared Thursday’s monkeypox epidemic a public health emergency.
In a tweet, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra stated that “In light of evolving conditions on the ground I am declaring a Public Health Emergency on #monkeypox.” “We are ready and able to go to the next level to address this virus, and we urge all Americans to consider monkeypox seriously.”
Later that day, President Joe Biden announced that he would increase vaccine distribution as well as expand access to tests to detect and treat the virus.
He tweeted that he was still committed to the monkeypox response, which includes increasing vaccine distribution, testing, and educating at high-risk communities. “That is why today’s public emergency declaration on the virus virus is crucial to combating this epidemic with the urgency it deserves.”
Monkeypox, a rare and serious disease, has infected over 6,600 Americans. It can cause severe symptoms such as fever, headaches, fatigue, and pimple-like bumps in many areas of the body.
Source: Fox News