Monkeypox case reported in Anchorage

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - A case of monkeypox was reported in Anchorage over the weekend, according to the Alaska Department of Health.

According to the notice, an adult Anchorage resident was traveling out of state, where ongoing monkeypox activity was reported. The patient was unvaccinated and reported “anonymous sexual contact” while traveling, the alert said.

According to the report, the illness has been mild, and the patient is isolating and recovering at home.

Close contacts have been identified and are being notified, assessed for risk, and monitored for symptoms. No additional cases or evidence of local community transmission have been identified at this time.

The health department previously stated that monkeypox is not easily transmitted between people. Transmission is possible either through skin-to-skin contact with body fluids or monkeypox sores, through direct contact with contaminated items like bedding or clothing, or through exposure to respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face contact.

Currently, there is no FDA-approved treatment specifically for monkeypox. Most patients recover with supportive care.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there has been a recent uptick of U.S. cases of this specific strand of monkeypox across several different states linked to an outbreak in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and other West African countries.

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