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Monkeypox case likely detected in Lubbock

This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virus particles, left, and spherical immature particles, right.
Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner
/
CDC
This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virus particles, left, and spherical immature particles, right.

The first probable case of monkeypox in Lubbock County was reported Wednesday by the City of Lubbock’s Health Department. Officials are still investigating, but say confirmation of the disease is highly likely.

Initial testing was completed Tuesday at the Texas Tech University Bioterrorism Response Laboratory and confirmatory testing is being done at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Identified close contacts to the case will be notified, asked to monitor for symptoms and when clinically appropriate, offered vaccine,” reads a news release from the health department. “Currently, the general public is not considered at risk because people with monkeypox in this outbreak report having close, sustained physical contact with other people who have monkeypox.”

In some cases, monkeypox can also spread through fluids on a person’s breath, but generally only between people in close proximity for an extended period.

Symptoms of monkeypox are flu-like and can include fever, swollen lymph nodes and body aches, as well as rashes. Research shows the lesions one may associate with the virus do not seem to be as common with the strain currently spreading.

Monkeypox rarely leads to hospitalization or death.

The CDC reports 42 cases have been confirmed in Texas.

Sarah Self-Walbrick is the news director at Texas Tech Public Media, where she leads the news team and focuses on underreported stories in Lubbock. Sarah is a Lubbock native and a three-time graduate of Texas Tech University. She started her career at the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
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