For Immediate Release:
June 19, 2003

Contact:
Nanci Gonder
573-751-6062
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

CDC Confirms Suspected Monkey Pox Case in Missouri

Introduction

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced today that the probable case of monkeypox in Northwest Missouri has been confirmed. The confirmed diagnosis, Missouri's first case of monkeypox, was announced after DHSS received positive lab results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which ran more sensitive and specific lab analysis.

The confirmation of monkeypox came a day after DHSS officials quarantined other animals at the infected individual's residence. A prairie dog that was suspected of transmitting the disease was euthanized in preparation for sending to CDC for testing. None of the other animals currently show signs of infection, but will be kept in quarantine at the home and screened for symptoms until mid July.

"The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is working with the local health department and the Missouri Department of Agriculture to take all steps necessary to prevent the spread of the monkeypox virus to other humans," said Bryant McNally, Director of the department's Division of Environmental Health and Communicable Disease Prevention.

"We are also taking steps to ensure that this disease is not introduced into the wild animal population," McNally added.

He said the Missouri Department of Agriculture is contacting pet stores and auctions in the state to remind them that there is a nationwide ban on the distribution, sale and transport of prairie dogs and six specific African rodent species implicated in the current monkeypox outbreak. The
department also is reminding pet-store owners to monitor their animals for any sign of disease.

He said the state and local health departments will continue to monitor the case in Northwest Missouri. He said this includes identifying any
individuals who might have been exposed to an infected animal, and providing the smallpox vaccine for protection from the disease, if warranted.

Currently, there are no other confirmed or probable cases of monkeypox in the state.

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