Mpox detected at Fort Dodge Correctional Facility

The Iowa Department of Corrections reported today that at least one case of ox was detected at the Fort Dodge Correctional facility. Local five's Alex Fulton is in studio with the latest on this developing situation. Alex Stephanie. I reached out to the Iowa Department of Corrections to figure out exactly how many cases and whether it's staff or inmates who tested positive. They said they can't comment because of an ongoing investigation but said those affected are getting care and are being isolated. The risk is low as far as the community right now. The Webster County Health Department making it clear that the public has a low risk of getting ox even after at least one case was confirmed at the Fort Dodge Correctional facility. We haven't had anybody we're monitoring in the general public right now. The Iowa Department of Corrections says ox clad two was detected at the prison. This isn't the strain that has been spreading rapidly in Democratic Republic of the Congo. That one is ox cloud one clad one is actually more virulent, I would say more lethal and has caused more illnesses and easily transmittable and cause more deaths in Africa. Both strains are defined by lesions all over the body and spread through skin to skin contact such as sexual activities or touching your casual contact with strange walking through a public space. You are not, not at all likely to get the pox virus through those types of interactions. It really requires very close skin to skin, intimate contact ox cloud one. The strain identified at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility has a more than 99.9% survival rate according to the CDC in the United States. You know, there have been more than 30,000 cases and 50 to 60 deaths. The Webster County Health Department and most others across the state do offer vaccines that provide protection against ox. Vaccine supply is limited though and reserved for people who are at a greater risk, including those who recently traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo and gay men.