For Immediate Release:
June 14, 2003

Contact:
Nanci Gonder or Mary Kay Hager
DHSS Office of Public Information
573-751-6062

State Health Department Investigating Monkeypox Case in Missouri Resident

(Jefferson City, Mo.) - The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced today that it is investigating one probable case of monkeypox in a Missouri resident. Health officials believe the virus was transmitted by the resident's pet prairie dog that became ill. The animal was recently purchased from Phil's Pocket Pets in Villa Park, Illinois.

Initial laboratory tests performed at the state's public health laboratory are highly suggestive of monkeypox. Samples will be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta for confirmation.

The state and local health departments are contacting the individual's close contacts who may have been exposed to the disease to offer the proper vaccination.

The state health department will continue to work closely with local health departments to follow-up on any other potential monkeypox cases. In addition, the department has issued this advice for anyone who has gotten prairie dogs since April 15:

• Anyone who has a prairie dog or other small rodents in their household as pets should be watching their animals for signs of illness.
• If your animal has symptoms of monkeypox, contact your veterinarian or your local health department to ensure your animal is properly evaluated. Symptoms of monkeypox in animals include cold-like symptoms, running or oozing eyes, respiratory disease and rash.
• Persons bringing their ill animals to their veterinarian should contact the veterinarian beforehand so the appropriate measures can be taken in the veterinary office to avoid exposing a potentially sick animal to other animals that may be in the veterinarian's office.
• Any individual who has had contact with a sick animal should be on the lookout within their family for symptoms of fevers, chills, muscle aches and rash. If they do develop those symptoms, they should contact their health care provider. Since human-to-human transmission of this disease is possible, it is advisable first to phone the health care provider or facility for special instructions that will help minimize the spread of infection.
• As always, people with pets, particularly those with exotic pets, should always wash their hands after handling their pets.
  

Health officials also reminded residents not to release sick animals into the environment to ensure this disease does not spread into the wild animal population.

More information about monkeypox is available from CDC's web site at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/monkeypox/index.htm.

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