With the coronavirus pandemic still ongoing there have also been reports of a disease called monkeypox and public health officials talk about what you need to know. 

Dallas County Health Department Public Information Office Ann Cochran says there has been a small number of reported cases of monkeypox in the United States and so far none of them have been in the Midwest. 

“Monkeypox is a virus that isn’t nearly as contagious as COVID-19. Monkeypox is usually spread through direct contact with the rash or by touching bedding or clothing while you’re taking care of a person who has the disease.”

Cochran tells Raccoon Valley Radio the disease can be spread through airborne droplets like COVID-19 is but it’s more difficult to transmit that way. 

“What we are talking about is close contact. You are not going to catch monkeypox by walking past an infected person in a convenience store, the contact has to be prolonged.”

For more information on monkeypox from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention you can go here.