CT Sees Jump In Monkeypox Cases

A total of 11 Connecticut residents have now been diagnosed with monkeypox, the state Department of Public Health has announced.

Monkeypox cases have increased in Connecticut to 11.
Photo Credit: *CDC*

Kathy Reakes

07/15/2022 12:40 p.m.

All 11 patients are between the ages of 20 and 50 and live in Fairfield, New Haven, and Hartford counties, the department said.

The majority of the patients have not been hospitalized.

“Monkeypox spreads through close prolonged contact with an infected person. This might include coming into contact with skin lesions, or body fluids, sharing clothes or other materials that have been used by an infected person, or inhaling respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face contact,” said DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD. “Residents who are concerned about fever, swollen glands, and a new rash, should contact their health care provider.”

Diagnostic testing for monkeypox is now available from commercial laboratories, including LabCorp, Mayo Clinic, and Quest, and providers can order testing from these laboratories as they would order other diagnostic tests, the department said.

Testing is also available through the state public health laboratory, Monday-Friday.

Although anyone can get and spread monkeypox, the current cases are primarily spreading among social networks of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. For those who have multiple or anonymous sex partners, their likelihood of monkeypox exposure is high, the department said.

Due to the state’s current low case count, Connecticut has not received a substantial allotment of the monkeypox vaccine from the federal government at this time. More doses are expected in the coming weeks. Vaccination may be recommended for those who:

Are close personal contacts of people with monkeypox
May have been exposed to the virus
May have an increased risk of being exposed to the virus, such as people who perform laboratory testing to diagnose monkeypox

Those seeking treatment or additional information on the vaccine and antivirals, please contact your health care provider or call the DPH Epidemiology Program at (860) 509-7994 or (860) 509-8000 after hours.

For more information about monkeypox, please visit the CDC monkeypox webpage and the DPH monkeypox webpage.

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