There is testing for monkeypox in NC. Where to get one in Charlotte
A case of monkeypox has been confirmed in Mecklenburg County — one of a few in North Carolina — raising concerns about the viral illness that’s been on the rise in the U.S. as the country continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although experts have said monkeypox is not as contagious as COVID-19, there are symptoms to watch for and steps you should take if you think you might have the virus, including getting tested and potentially vaccinated against the virus.
Here’s what to know about how to get tested for monkeypox in the Charlotte area and more about the disease:
Is there a test for monkeypox?
Medical professionals can test to see if you have monkeypox.
The test involves a doctor collecting a specimen, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains, which usually involves swabbing the skin lesions that are often a symptom of the virus.
The specimen is then sent away to a laboratory for testing.
The federal Department of Health and Human Services announced in late June it was partnering with multiple commercial labs on testing to “dramatically expand testing capacity nationwide and make testing more convenient and accessible for patients and health care providers.”
How to get a monkeypox test in Charlotte
If you’ve been exposed to someone with monkeypox or are showing symptoms, you should call your doctor, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services advises.
“Your doctor will evaluate” your condition, the agency says, and decide whether to contact your county’s health department and if you need to be tested.
Monkeypox symptoms
One of the main symptoms of monkeypox is a rash, according to the CDC. The rash “can look like pimples or blisters,” the agency advises, and can appear on the face, hands, feet, chest, genitals, anus or in one’s mouth.
The rash can go “through different stages before healing completely.”
“Sometimes, people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience a rash,” the CDC says.
Other symptoms include:
Fever
Chills
Headache and muscle aches
Exhaustion
Swollen lymph nodes
Is there a monkeypox vaccine?
There are two vaccines that can help prevent monkeypox infection that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration, per the CDC.
Mecklenburg County will receive a limited supply from the federal government, the state Department of Health and Human Services announced previously.
Currently, the vaccine is only offered in the county to people who’ve been exposed to or are suspected of having been exposed to the virus.
Those who think they meet the criteria and need the vaccine should call the Mecklenburg County Health Department at 980-314-9400.
This story was originally published July 12, 2022 at 1:40 PM.
