Arkansas
Growing number of monkeypox cases in Arkansas

Little Rock, Arkansas – The Arkansas Department of Health reports the highest number so far since the outbreak.
As of Friday, September 2, there are 41 cases in the state.
The virus spreads through close, skin-to-skin contact, according to the ADH.
According to Dr. Atul Kothari with the Department of Health, while anyone can be at risk of catching it through things like clothes or bedding, it does target a specific group of people.
“It’s predominantly amongst men and it seems to be transmitted by close contact,” Kothari said. “A lot of them occur in men who have sex with men.”
Specifically, men who have sex with men who:
• have had multiple sex partners within the last year OR
• engage in anonymous group sex OR
• engage in sex at venues or events OR
• diagnosed with HIV
Dr. Kothari said his concern is for more than just case numbers. “The concern is not that we’ll see thousands of cases, but access to care, getting patients in for testing and treatment as quickly as possible.”
A major part of preventing further spread is vaccines. “We’ve been providing the monkey pox vaccine for about two and a half weeks,” said Scott Pace, owner of Kavanaugh Pharmacy in Little Rock.
According to Dr. Kothari, he has seen an increase in demand for the shots recently, and his pharmacy has given out around 15 in the last week.
The virus can be extremely serious if it is not treated properly and early on, Dr. Kothari said.
With vaccines available, those at risk can get ahead of the virus as much as possible, Pace said. “It’s encouraging that we have a prevention option on the table,” Pace said.
-
Crime & Safety2 weeks ago
1 died and 2 injured in a fatal accident in Greene County
-
Local News6 days ago
After leading Arkansas police on a 120 mph, multi-city chase, the wanted offender captured
-
Local News2 weeks ago
One person killed in an early morning shooting near a hotel in North Little Rock
-
Arkansas2 weeks ago
New billboard seeks to ban contentious books from the Saline County Library
-
Local News1 week ago
Looking for a man who got lost on the Buffalo River
-
Local News2 weeks ago
New simulator used in Little Rock nursing program to instruct students
-
Arkansas1 week ago
Study shows Arkansas seventh in the country for job resignations
-
Arkansas2 weeks ago
Organizations in Arkansas seeking to increase funding for the foster care system