As of July 12, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a total of 26 confirmed cases of monkeypox across Texas. Of those, six have now been confirmed locally by Austin Public Health and an additional seven others are being investigated as presumptive positive.
According to Travis County Health Authority Desmar Walkes, this is indicative of community spread.
“We need to be safe and follow practices we’ve learned from COVID-19 to prevent the spread of monkeypox here in our community,” said Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County Health Authority. “Try to reduce close, intimate interactions with those whose health history you’re unaware of. Use hand sanitizer, and wear masks when in close quarters with others who have symptoms.”
Monkeypox is not easily spread, often requiring direct person-to-person contact with a blister, open sore, or lesion. However, it does have the ability to spread through respiratory droplets, too.
Austin Public Health will be posting the total number of cases each Thursday. You can CLICK HERE to see the monkeypox dashboard.
