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NC health experts say more monkeypox tests, vaccines are on the way

On Wednesday, the state health department told WRAL News that they carry no constraints when it comes to testing. But they do need providers to be willing to test.

Posted Updated

By
Joe Fisher
, WRAL reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — On Tuesday, WRAL News learned about a Durham man’s struggle to find a monkeypox test.

On Wednesday, the state health department told WRAL News that they carry no constraints when it comes to testing. However, they do need providers to be willing to test.

They are now putting out more clear messaging to medical providers to test all patients who present with potential symptoms.

As it's often spread by skin-to-skin contact, monkeypox is also airborne.

“People who have had prolonged contact can breathe it in and acquire monkeypox,” said Dr. David Weber, Associate Chief Medical Officer with UNC Health.

It can take 10 days, and in some cases up to three weeks, to see symptoms, like fever, rashes or sores. The U.S. has confirmed 928 cases - with 10 cases in North Carolina.

A Durham man talked about his struggle to get tested, telling WRAL News "It's been terrible."

“A week later and two urgent care visits and one ER visit and $400 later, I was able to get [a test]," the man said.

“We want our providers sending testing in," said Dr. Betsey Tilson, chief medical officer for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. "We want patients going to their providers to get that testing.”

Duke, UNC and Wake Med are swabbing patients for monkeypox. The samples are sent to the state lab - where they’ve now tested 77 patients from across the state.

Only seven health departments, including those in Durham and Wake counties, are administering the vaccine.

“People who have a known contact with someone with monkeypox, that is our first priority,” Dr. Tilson said. "We want to extend the eligibility to men who have sex with men or transgender individuals who have had multiple sex partners or anonymous sex partners.”

North Carolina has only received 444 vaccine doses. But 2,300 additional doses will be here by next week.

Dr. Weber expects cases to rise - but for most patients, he says the illness is mild.

“I don’t think we are going to end up having a pandemic like we’ve had with COVID,” Dr. Weber said. “I really can’t say whether this will be six more weeks or six more months.”

Thousands of additional monkeypox vaccines are on the way to North Carolina. The vaccine consists of two doses, taken a month apart.

Wake County received 20 initial doses of the vaccine. All of them have been accounted for - as they now wait for more to arrive.

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