Nebraska Health Departments Prepare for Monkeypox Cases

July 25, 2022, 5 p.m. ·

Monkeypox symptoms
Courtesy Douglas County Health Department

Nebraska health departments are collaborating with one another and raising awareness of monkeypox, preparing for the possibility of more cases. Teresa Anderson, director of Central District Health Department, said information about the virus is fairly limited.

“We don’t know how quickly it is going to spread across the country. We know that the World Health Organization declared it a virus of concern, and so we want to be very vigilant,” she said.

Health departments across the state have received monkeypox vaccines. Caleb Kuddes, emergency response coordinator at Three Rivers Health Department, said doses are earmarked for people in at-risk groups and people who have been in contact with a monkeypox infection.

“In this current outbreak, the vast majority of cases are in men who have sex with men. So that’s kind of the population that is going to receive priority for receiving vaccine,” he said.

If you believe you have contracted monkeypox or have been in contact with someone with monkeypox, reach out to your local healthcare provider for testing.