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First confirmed case of monkeypox reported in Fayette County

This image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) shows a colorized transmission electron micrograph of monkeypox particles (red) found within an infected cell (blue), cultured in the laboratory that was captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Md. The World Health Organization recently declared the expanding monkeypox outbreak a global emergency. It is WHO’s highest level of alert, but the designation does not necessarily mean a disease is particularly transmissible or lethal. (NIAID via AP)
AP
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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
This image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) shows a colorized transmission electron micrograph of monkeypox particles (red) found within an infected cell (blue), cultured in the laboratory that was captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Md. The World Health Organization recently declared the expanding monkeypox outbreak a global emergency. It is WHO’s highest level of alert, but the designation does not necessarily mean a disease is particularly transmissible or lethal. (NIAID via AP)

Officials with the Lexington Fayette County Health Department confirmed the case Wednesday afternoon. So far in Kentucky, three cases have been confirmed in Jefferson County and there are more than a dozen other probable cases coming from other counties.

The Lexington Fayette County Health Department is holding a monkeypox vaccine clinic on Thursday, though vaccines are limited and spots are only open to people at high risk. A health department official told WEKU that no other vaccine clinics are scheduled at this time, but the situation changes daily.

According to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, monkeypox typically begins with a fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and exhaustion followed by a rash. The illness usually lasts 2-4 weeks and infected persons are considered contagious while symptoms are present.

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Samantha was a reporter and All Things Considered Host from 2019 to 2023. Sam is also a graduate of Morehead State University and worked for MSU's Public Radio Station.
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