PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Mpox cases are increasing in Virginia. VDH data indicates there have been 14 cases since January, surpassing the 12 total cases reported last year.
At least one of the new cases is from the Eastern Region, which includes Hampton Roads.
Mpox is a skin rash that sometimes can appear as a small pimple.
“These can be really nasty and really painful lesions,” said Brandy Darby, director of the Virginia Department of Health’s Division of Surveillance and Investigation.
Four Virginians have recently been hospitalized to mange it.
“[They need] help eating and going to the bathroom just because of where these locations are on the body,” Darby said. “Those can be activities that become very difficult for people.”
There is a vaccine to prevent infection, and VDH is pushing for those most at risk, which includes men who have sex with men, to get the shot before Pride festival season this summer.
“So, activities like kissing, cuddling, obviously sexual activities, as well as sharing utensils like cups or eating utensils and things like that can lead to transmission,” Darby said.
Health officials across the country fear a surge in cases is coming. There was a large Mpox outbreak in 2022, when the VDH reported 566 cases in the Commonwealth.
“So I can imagine that, perhaps with this not being top of mind, that people have relaxed some of those measures that they were taking to keep themselves safe,” Darby said.
Those measures she explained are things such as limiting sexual partners and sharing sexual histories, both highly recommended to stop the spread.
Community vaccination events were held in 2022 and 2023 in Norfolk. The Norfolk Health Director told WAVY that more are in the works as the number of cases increases.
Meantime you can find a vaccine near you on the VDH website.
