MARQUETTE — The Marquette County Health Department is urging calm regarding monkeypox being found in the United States.

MCHD medical director Dr. Bob Lorinser on Tuesday issued a statement regarding the issue.

“Monkeypox isn’t the next coronavirus and there is no need to panic,” Lorinser said.

Monkeypox is in the news because of an unusual uptick in monkeypox cases around the globe beginning this month, he said.

“The first U.S. case was identified last week, and additional cases are being found and investigated,” Lorinser said. “Michigan currently has no cases.”

According to Lorinser, monkeypox was first discovered in 1958, with the first human case reported in 1970. Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, exhaustion and a rash that spreads across the body, making it a highly visible disease. Monkeypox is fatal in up to 10% of infections.

He said human monkeypox was first reported in the United States in 2003 when 47 confirmed and probable cases were reported. Additionally, scientists have studied monkeypox for decades, and vaccines and treatments are available.

Transmission of monkeypox from human to human has been thought to occur mainly through large respiratory droplets, which means that prolonged face-to-face contact is required; contact with bodily fluids or lesions; or contact with contaminated clothing or linens, Lorinser said.

Recent cases, he said, suggest a potentially novel means of spread via sexual contact.

Clinicians should consult their local health department if they suspect monkeypox, Lorinser said. If the local health department cannot be reached, they are asked to notify the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Infectious Disease Prevention for case-evaluation and specimen-testing coordination at 517-335-8165, or after hours at 517-335-9030. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Emergency Operations Center at 770-488-7100 is another resource that can be used as soon as monkeypox is suspected, he said. Resource links are www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.html and emergency.cdc.gov/han/2022/han00463.asp.

Food payments increased

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday announced that all Michigan families who are eligible for food assistance benefits will continue to receive at least an additional $95 monthly payment this month to help lower the cost of groceries.

The additional assistance will help approximately 1.36 million Michiganders in more than 700,000 households, the governor’s office said.

“Michiganders will continue to be able to put nutritious food on the table thanks to our ongoing partnership with the federal government,” Whitmer said in a statement. “In addition to helping Michigan families lower their out-of-pocket food costs, this collaboration has helped us continue to grow our economy by returning federal dollars to Michigan. I will work with anyone to lower costs for Michiganders and get things done that make a real difference in their lives.”

In April 2020, some Michigan residents began receiving additional food assistance under this program, according to the governor’s office. In May 2021, all eligible households began getting extra monthly benefits. Federal approval is necessary every month.

All households eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program receive an increase of at least $95 monthly, even if they are already receiving the maximum payment or are close to that amount. Households that received more than $95 to bring them to the maximum payment for their group size will continue to receive that larger amount.

The maximum allowable benefits for SNAP customers based on their respective household size are: one person, $250; two persons, $459; three persons, $658; four persons, $835; five persons, $992; six persons, $1,190; seven persons, $1,316; and eight persons, $1,504.

Secured by U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, as chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, the federal government is providing additional funding to states for food assistance under House Resolution 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

Eligible families do not need to re-apply to receive the additional benefits. People who receive food assistance can check their benefits balance on their Michigan Bridge Card by visiting www.michigan.gov/MIBridges or calling a consumer service representative toll-free at 888-678-8914. They can ask questions about the additional benefits by calling or emailing their caseworker.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.