WITH Guam confirming its first case of monkeypox on Sunday, Sept. 11, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation remains alert and is actively monitoring the situation in the CNMI, CHCC Chief Executive Officer Esther L. Muna said.
There were no suspected cases of monkeypox in the CNMI as of Monday, she added.
Individuals who have an active rash or other symptoms of monkeypox are encouraged to isolate at home away from people or pets they live with, when possible.
Symptoms of monkeypox include a rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, such as the hands, feet, chest, genitals or anus.
Other symptoms may include fever, chills, headache, muscle ache, backache and swollen lymph nodes.
The illness typically lasts two to four weeks. Sometimes people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience a rash.
To confirm a diagnosis, individuals are encouraged to contact CHCC at (670) 234-8950 ahead of their visit for a preliminary evaluation.
For more information, visit https://www.chcc.health or call (670) 234-8950.
According to U.S. News & World Report, “Monkeypox cases in the U.S. have surpassed 20,700 — the most reported infections of any country.”
States reporting the highest number of cases include California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois and New York, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
