Today, Norwalk Health Department shared critical preventive health care information and local resources to help mitigate the spread of monkeypox.
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), as of August 1, there have been 35 cases of monkeypox virus in CT.
Monkeypox virus is part of the same family of viruses as smallpox and symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms but less severe. The virus is seldomly fatal, but the infection can be painful and long-lasting.
To help curb the spread of monkeypox, CT DPH has partnered with 15 health care providers to distribute vaccinations throughout the state, including Circle Care Center, a Norwalk medical provider that provides high-quality LGBTQ-affirming medical and sexual health services. Circle Care Center and other providers throughout the state can provide the vaccine to eligible individuals, currently defined as CT residents over the age of 18 who also are:
People who have had confirmed exposure to someone diagnosed with the monkeypox virus or
Gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, and/or transgender, gender non-conforming, or gender non-binary and have had multiple or anonymous sex partners in the last 14 days.
You can learn more about how to recognize symptoms and how this virus spreads by reading our full press release at here
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