RALEIGH, N.C. — Monkeypox still remains a global health concern.

What You Need To Know

  • The state health director says monkeypox cases are increasing but that the virus is not as transmissible as the coronavirus that causes COVID-19

  • The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is working with local health departments and community partners to identify and respond to every case

  • School district leaders across the state say their staff is prepared to react if there is a possible outbreak of monkeypox

Recently, women were diagnosed even though the vast majority of cases have been in men who have sex with men.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is working with local health departments and community partners to identify and respond to every case.

Dr. Elizabeth Tilson, the state health director, says cases are increasing, but monkeypox is not nearly as transmissible as COVID-19.

“The population that we’re seeing the biggest impact is our men who have sex with men, especially our Black men who have sex with men, so we really want to be sure that we’re reaching out and caring and protecting that community,” Tilson said.

She says there’s still a limited supply of vaccines coming into the state.

“We want to ensure that we’re prioritizing people that are at the highest risk of getting an infection and exposure for those vaccines. So that includes people who have had a known contact with someone with monkeypox or men who have sex with men and within the past 90 days, have had multiple or anonymous partners, have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection or are on medications to prevent HIV,” Tilson said. "As we get more vaccines in the state, we’ll be able to increase that vaccine eligibility."

The state health department has a robust communication effort to educate people about the spread of monkeypox.

“We are making sure people are learning the facts. You can get that on our website as well as many series of town halls and community outreach,” Tilson said.

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School district leaders across the state say their staff is prepared if there is an outbreak.

A spokesperson with Durham County Public Schools says that the district plans to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and that school officials are in contact with the local health department.

In Wake County Public Schools, officials say their process for monkeypox and all infectious diseases is to immediately contact the local health department to assess the situation and develop a specific response for the school community.

Other districts have similar plans in place.