Hawaii Steps Up Efforts To Track Monkeypox Cases
A new dashboard will log confirmed cases and vaccination rates
The Hawaii Department of Health published an Thursday to track the monkeypox virus and vaccination rates as the state has reported 28 cases of the disease since June 3.
The department will update its dashboard for monkeypox cases whenever they’re reported, while the vaccine dashboard will be updated every Wednesday, according to the DOH.
鈥淎s monkeypox cases continue to rise across the country and in Hawaii, DOH will continue to provide updated information to the public,鈥 Deputy State Epidemiologist Nathan Tan said in a news release. 鈥淚t鈥檚 critically important to us that we continue to make vaccination available to communities disproportionately impacted by this outbreak 鈥 and the data released today will help all of us ensure that vaccine is being distributed equitably.鈥
The new dashboard includes general information about the disease and vaccine as well as guidance on infection and prevention. It also includes a list of vaccine clinics in the state. So far, the department has administered 2,283 doses of the Jynneos vaccine, a two-dose shot that鈥檚 given two days apart.
By race, 34% of people who received the vaccine are white, 27% are Asian, 14% are Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders and 2% are Black. Just over 20% of people who received the vaccine were listed as 鈥渙ther鈥 and 2% were listed as 鈥渦nknown.鈥
The DOH announced three additional monkeypox cases on Thursday, increasing the statewide total to 28. Twenty-one cases were reported on Oahu, three on Hawaii island, two on Maui and two on Kauai. The cases include two non-residents diagnosed on Kauai and one on Oahu.
Monkeypox is a rare disease that鈥檚 closely related to smallpox, meaning the vaccines are considered effective for both diseases. People infected with the disease may have flu-like symptoms, swollen lymph nodes or sores or rashes.
The confirmed cases were mostly spread among gay and biseuxal men or transgender individuals having sex with other men, according to the department.
The disease has spread from Africa, where it鈥檚 endemic, and has been As of Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
