Mega Doctor News
EDINBURG – An individual from Hidalgo County whose identity will not be released has been confirmed to have monkeypox – the first case in the county.
A health laboratory confirmed the case over the weekend and officials with the Hidalgo County Health and Human Services Department are working with the individual to begin contact tracing to determine who might have been exposed locally and initiate the process of getting those most at risk vaccinated.
Privacy laws preclude releasing many details of this case, other than it is suspected to be travel related. The gender and age range of the individual cannot be revealed at this time, health officials said.
The individual is being encouraged to isolate at home and is being cooperative with health officials to determine who might have been exposed.
The confirmation comes days after Hidalgo County and other health agencies began administering a monkeypox vaccine locally. Because of the limited supply of vaccines, health officials are targeting high risk individuals for the preventive measure.
County health officials are strongly encouraging local health care providers to be diligent about suspected cases and to report any confirmed cases to the county health department.
