In the summer of 2022, monkeypox spread in the United States. In early July 2022, state health officials announced West Virginia’s first probable case, in a Berkeley County resident. At that time the U.S. had more than 600 confirmed cases.
On July 28, 2022, the county health department reported a probable case in Kanawha County. It first said there were two probable cases, then corrected the count to one on July 29.
How it spread
- Mainly through close, skin-to-skin contact with an infected person, including contact with skin sores or body fluids.
- Through shared clothing or other items an infected person used.
- Through respiratory droplets during long face-to-face contact.
Health officials said monkeypox was rare and usually not fatal. It did not spread easily through the air the way COVID-19 does, so they called the risk to the community relatively low.
Symptoms
Symptoms included fever, chills, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and tiredness. A rash could look like pimples or blisters. It could appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on the hands, feet, chest, genitals or anus. Officials told people with fever, swollen glands or a new rash to contact a health care provider.
The vaccine in 2022
At first, West Virginia had no vaccine, because it had no cases. It then received 30 doses of JYNNEOS. By late July 2022, the state had 427 doses. Officials said not everyone needed the vaccine. Doses went to close contacts of cases and to health care workers at high risk of exposure. In August 2022, the county health department gave free doses at a Pride event. See Health Department to Give Monkeypox Vaccine During Rainbow Pride’s Big Gay Cookout.
This information is from July 2022. The disease is now called mpox, and vaccine rules have changed. This page is kept as a record and is not current advice. Check current guidance from the CDC or your doctor.