The Reality of Monkeypox in Utah

According to Fox 13 News, as of July 27, 2022, twenty-seven probable and/or confirmed cases
of Monkeypox have been reported in Utah. Zenith Direct Care is a Direct Primary Care Clinic
that doesn’t accept traditional insurance as payment. Instead, they offer a family membership
plan to individuals with a small financial bandwidth. Visit the site for more information and how
you can use direct primary care during the current public health emergency due to Monkeypox.

I Think I Have Monkeypox; What Do I Do?

If you’ve been exposed to someone with Monkeypox, you must contact your healthcare provider
immediately so they can order a Smallpox vaccine for you. Although there is no standard
treatment for the virus, the Monkeypox virus is genetically similar to Smallpox. Therefore, the
CDC recommends anyone exposed to Monkeypox receive the Smallpox vaccine.
According to the CDC, the Monkeypox disease can last from 2 to 4 weeks. A person is healed
when a fresh layer of skin has formed over the healed rashes.

Where Can I Get Vaccinated for Monkeypox?

If you have been exposed to a Monkeypox confirmed or probable case, call your health provider
to order a Smallpox vaccine.
In Utah, the only Health Department administering Smallpox vaccines to the public is Salt Lake
County Health Department. The department has administered 900 vaccines to at-risk individuals
and expects another shipment of vaccines to arrive soon. The public can schedule an
appointment once the vaccines have arrived.

How Does Monkeypox Spread?

The CDC reports that any individuals who participate in direct contact or intimate contact with a
person who has Monkeypox are at-risk.
Direct or intimate contact is defined as follows:
● Anyone who participates in oral, anal, or vaginal sex with a person who has Monkeypox
● Anyone who participates in hugging, kissing, or massaging a person who has
Monkeypox
● Anyone who participates in the touching or handling of genitalia or anus of a person who
has Monkeypox
● Anyone pregnant person with Monkeypox can pass it to the fetus
● Anyone who touches or handles any objects or fabrics used during sex by a person with
Monkeypox
● Anyone who touches objects or fabrics touched by someone who participated in any
sexual intercourse or physical contact with a person who has Monkeypox and did not
wash their hands

What Are the Symptoms of Monkeypox?

Monkeypox Symptoms:
A rash, includes scabs before healing. These rashes can look like pimples or blisters and may
be painful or itchy
Other symptoms:
● Fever
● Chills
● Swollen lymph nodes
● Exhaustion
● Muscle aches & backache
● Headache
● Respiratory symptoms
*A person with Monkeypox can experience any or all symptoms.

How to Prevent Monkeypox?

Because there is no standard medical practice to treat Monkeypox, it is highly recommended
that everyone who participates in any of the items listed in the ‘How Does Monkeypox Spread?’
section thoroughly wash their hands often and use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. In addition,
avoid physical contact with anyone who has Monkeypox.

Why Does Herd Immunity Work?

Herd immunity is real but only works for certain viruses. Three characteristics must be met for
herd immunity to be effective:
1. The virus cannot change
a. Viruses that don’t change are Measles, Smallpox & Polio
b. Viruses that do change are the common Cold & COVID
2. Long Lasting Immunity is reported
3. Universal acceptance of the vaccine

Citations:
● https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/vaccines.html
● https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/symptoms.html
● https://slco.org/health/infectious-disease/monkeypox/
● https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/transmission.html
● https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/prevention/protect-yourself.html
● https://nationalpress.org/topic/fauci-monkeypox-long-covid-funding-misinformation/