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HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — The Harris County Jail is reporting its first case of monkeypox.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said on Twitter that an inmate who arrived on Aug. 15 was placed in quarantine, which is a standard COVID-19 protocol for the jail.
We have the first confirmed positive case of monkeypox virus in the Harris County jail. The male inmate was booked on 8-15-22 without complaints. In accordance with our COVID protocols, the male was placed in temporary quarantine. He was in quarantine when we learned of 1/2 pic.twitter.com/zLNcty55Jq
%u2014 Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) August 25, 2022
A week later, while still in quarantine, the inmate began showing possible symptoms of monkeypox, Gonzalez said.
“We are managing the care of the (man) and the well-being of our personnel,” Gonzalez said, as he added that the jail is now in the process of contact tracing and disinfecting.
In an update, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo revealed the infected inmate was already isolated when the case emerged.
“I’m aware of the monkeypox case in the jail,” Hidalgo tweeted. “Thankfully, the person was already in COVID quarantine for intake and the screening systems worked.”
I%u2019m aware of the Monkeypox case in the jail. @hcphtx @HoustonHealth and @harrishealth are involved. Thankfully the person was already in COVID quarantine for intake and the screening systems worked. I urge any member of the community who qualifies to get vaccinated. 832-927-2727
%u2014 Lina Hidalgo (@LinaHidalgoTX) August 25, 2022
In an update on how monkeypox is impacting people in our area, leaders with the Houston Health Department and Harris County Public Health said the good news is that the virus doesn’t spread in the air like COVID, which killed eight people at the Harris County Jail at the height of the pandemic.
“They did a really, really fantastic job of containing that virus. This virus has its own personality. It doesn’t spread nearly as easily. Nevertheless, there’s risk,” Dr. David Persse with the Houston Health Department said.
Monkeypox is rarely fatal. It spreads on surfaces and skin-to-skin. Both health departments are working with the jail to contain it. Their protocol quarantining all new inmates helps, but the best defense against the virus is the vaccine.
“We’re still behind the curve with the vaccine, but if people are aware of how the virus is transmitted and they adjust accordingly until they can get the vaccine, those are things that will curve the increased number of cases and level it out until we can get enough vaccine out into the population to really slow things down,” Persse said.
Current numbers show 492 people in Harris County have tested positive for monkeypox, so far. Health department numbers are updated daily, but they can lag in terms of determining trends.
“I think it’s a little bit early to say whether we are truly seeing numbers fall, but we are optimistic about it. The country, as a whole, still remains low risk,” Dr. Ericka Brown with Harris County Public Health said.
Until a vaccine is widely available, health experts suggest people practice good hygiene, limit sexual partners, and keep common surfaces disinfected. Anyone with questions about guidance, testing, or vaccinations can call a monkeypox hotline: 832-927-0707.