Johnson County has first presumptive positive case of monkeypox
The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are announcing a single presumptive positive monkeypox case in an adult male Johnson County, Kansas resident. JCDHE is awaiting confirmatory test results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is the first presumptive positive case in Kansas.
The person did not travel outside the country, did not require hospitalization and is isolating at home. To protect patient privacy, no further information will be provided. KDHE is identifying and monitoring the patient’s close contacts. No additional cases have been detected in Johnson County at this time.
“Monkeypox is a very rare disease in the United States,” said Dr. Sanmi Areola, JCDHE director. “Transmission requires close contact with someone with symptomatic monkeypox. This virus has not shown the ability to spread rapidly in the general population. Based on the information currently available, the risk to the public appears to be very low.”
Although rare, monkeypox is a potentially serious viral illness that is transmitted when someone has close contact with an infected person or animal. Person-to-person spread occurs with prolonged close contact or with direct contact with body fluids or contact with contaminated materials such as clothing or linens. Illness typically begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion and swelling of the lymph nodes.
After a few days, a specific type of rash appears, often starting on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body. Symptoms generally appear seven to 14 days after exposure and, for most people, clear up within two to four weeks. Some people can have severe illness and die. As with many viral illnesses, treatment mainly involves supportive care and relief of symptoms.
If you are sick and have symptoms consistent with monkeypox, seek medical care from your health care provider, especially if you are in one of the following groups:
- Those who traveled to locations where monkeypox cases have been reported, or other areas with confirmed cases of monkeypox during the month before their symptoms began.
- Those who have had contact with a person with confirmed or suspected monkeypox.
- Close or intimate in-person contact with individuals in a social network experiencing monkeypox activity including meeting partners through an online website, digital app or social event.
If you need to seek care, call your health care provider first. Let them know you are concerned about possible monkeypox infection so they can take precautions to ensure that others are not exposed.
For more information, view the CDC's webpage on monkeypox, as well as our monkeypox webpage.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Johnson County get its first case of monkeypox?
On July, the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced a single presumptive monkeypox case in an adult male Johnson County, Kansas resident. JCDHE is awaiting confirmatory test results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What does it mean to have a presumptive test?
A case is considered presumptive until it is confirmed by the CDC. Once the CDC receives the specimen, it usually takes 24-48 hours to receive confirmation.
What do we know about the person who has been tested for monkeypox?
The person, an adult male, did not travel outside the country, did not require hospitalization and is isolating at home. To protect patient privacy, no further information will be provided.
Where did the person get infected?
The person appears to have been exposed during travel to an area in the U.S. that has previously reported cases. Including the case in Kansas, cases have been reported in 38 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, as well as bordering states to Kansas (Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma). JCDHE stresses that the risk to the general public is low; it is important to understand that additional cases in the community may be reported.
Are other cases being investigated?
KDHE is identifying and monitoring the patient’s close contacts. No additional cases have been detected in Johnson County at this time.
How does monkeypox spread?
Monkeypox does not spread easily between persons. Transmission requires close contact with someone with symptomatic monkeypox. Person-to-person spread occurs with prolonged close contact or with direct contact with body fluids or contact with contaminated materials such as clothing or linens. This virus has not shown the ability to spread rapidly in the general population. Based on the information currently available, the risk to the Johnson County public appears to be very low.
How serious is monkeypox and what are the symptoms?
It is a potentially serious illness. It typically begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, and swelling of the lymph nodes. After a few days, a specific type of rash appears, often starting on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body. Symptoms generally appear seven to 14 days after exposure and, for most people, clear up within two to four weeks. Some people can have severe illness and die. As with many viral illnesses, treatment mainly involves supportive care and relief of symptoms.
What should someone do if they suspect they have monkeypox?
- If you are sick and have symptoms consistent with monkeypox, seek medical care from your health care provider, especially if you are in one of the following groups:
- Those who traveled during the month before their symptoms began to areas where monkeypox cases have been reported,
- Those who have had contact with a person with confirmed or suspected monkeypox.
- Close or intimate in-person contact with individuals in a social network experiencing monkeypox activity including meeting partners through an online website, digital app.
If you need to seek care, call your health care provider first. Let them know you are concerned about possible monkeypox infection so they can take precautions to ensure that others are not exposed. The health care provider will notify JCDHE.
How are you educating the community about the signs, symptoms and prevention of the virus?
JCDHE is taking an active approach to provide accurate, timely information to the community via the Johnson County Government website, social media and conducting interviews with local media as news becomes available. JCDHE staff is available to answer questions from the public during regular business hours at 913-715-2819 or via email at jcdhe@jocogov.org.
What advice do you have for those people in your at-risk categories, to limit their exposure?
- Stay informed. Follow reputable sources of health information, including JCDHE, KDHE and the CDC.
- Ask your sexual partners whether they have a rash or other symptoms consistent with monkeypox.
- Avoid skin-to-skin contact with someone who has a rash or other monkeypox-related symptoms.
- Call (do not visit) your health care provider if you have symptoms or have been exposed. Provide information about symptoms, travel history and exposures.
- Stay home if you are ill. If you have symptoms of monkeypox, stay at home, wear a mask around others and cover sores to prevent the spread of infection.