Elkhart County Health Administrator discusses monkeypox cases in Michiana

ELKHART, Ind. -- Elkhart County Health Administrator Melanie Sizemore sat with ABC57 to discuss monkeypox symptoms and effects after a recent positive case in Elkhart County.

The health department also reported one suspected case of monkeypox in Elkhart County.

They did not release any further information.

Monkeypox is related to smallpox and has similar symptoms, but monkeypox symptoms are milder. Monkeypox is rarely fatal, the CDC says.

Symptoms include (via CDC):

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches and backache
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Chills
• Exhaustion
• Rash that looks like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals.

The illness lasts approximately 2-4 weeks.

• direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids
• respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex
• touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids
• pregnant people can spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta

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