The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 44 COVID patients today, the same as Wednesday. Other significant numbers:
- 24 with the active virus today, 26 Wednesday
- 3 in ICU, 4 Wednesday
- 3 on ventilators, 3 Wednesday
- 20 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 18 Wednesday
Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System
- 22 cases of monkeypox reported in Kansas and Missouri, four in the Kansas City area and one in Johnson County, KS
- The health system has begun giving monkeypox vaccinations (click link for video) to those who qualify
- Supply is limited but available to those who need it
- Those first in line are people with a known exposure to monkeypox and those considered high risk due to skin-to-skin contact with others
- It is not an airborne disease or spread by touching objects
- Proper hand hygiene will help stop the spread
- You are unable to spread the disease unless you are symptomatic
- New CDC guidelines say people no longer need to isolate if they’ve been exposed to COVID. This has been happening already for the most part in the general public.
Dr. Allen Greiner, Medical Officer, Unified Government Public Health Department
- Health department in Wyandotte County is distributing doses to high risk people in the community
- So far have not seen a lot of monkeypox in children or adolescents. Hoping adult vaccinations will help keep kids disease free.
- Too soon to know if monkeypox makes you more susceptible to COVID. That’s why the effort to control the outbreak has become urgent.
- Symptoms include fever, aches, sore throat, and blisters. Someone who develops these symptoms should be isolated.
- Monkeypox not as transmissible as COVID, so vaccines and behavior changes are vital to stopping the spread
Scott Clardy, deputy director, Kansas City Health Department
- Kansas City has received 1800 doses but will be able to stretch it to 9000. That will provide 4,500 people with vaccinations since it’s a two shot regimen.
- Working to get to high risk groups through safety net providers
- 90% of monkeypox cases are from close, prolonged, intimate contact.
- Everyone needs to take responsibility for protecting themselves
Lance Williamson, nurse supervisor Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System
- Monkeypox shots are given differently from other vaccines, under the skin instead of directly into muscle tissue. The second dose is given 28 days after the first.
- Only 7% of monkeypox patients have needed hospitalization
- No deaths have been reported in the U.S. from monkeypox, but a few have been reported in other countries
- No need to wipe down surfaces or worry about contracting the disease from a swimming pool
- Wants people to understand this is not a “gay issue,” but one that impacts all of us
Chelsey Smith, Community Blood Center
- Metro area is in a blood emergency, with a two to three day supply of most types
- Type O, the most commonly used, down to a one to two day supply
- Summer months with travel and more trauma cases has led to the demand
- Donations have been down during COVID and have not resumed pre-pandemic levels
- If you’ve had COVID, wait until you have been symptom free for 14 days to donate. If you’ve been recently vaccinated, there is not time restriction on donating blood.
- To encourage donations, offering a Pint for a Pint. When you make a blood donation August 1 - September 10, 2022, you will receive a voucher to redeem for a pint of beer, cider, wine or soft drink at your local participating brewery. It cannot be used the same day as your donation.
Monday, August 15 at 8:00 a.m. is the next morning Medical Update. School is supposed to be full of wonder and fun, not scary. But with 27 school shootings so far this year, anxiety is high as students head back to school. We’ll have ways to ease those fears and other classroom concerns.
ATTENTION: media procedure for joining:
Zoom link: https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628
Telephone Zoom link: 1-312-626-6799, meeting ID: 782 897 8628
TVU Grid link: UoK_Health_SDI
Restream links: Facebook.com/kuhospital
YouTube.com/kuhospital
Send advance questions to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.
