Monkeypox

The Indiana Department of Health announced Wednesday the first person in Indiana has died from monkeypox.

The dashboard's demographic data illustrated racial disparities similar to the trend nationwide.

A new IU Health lab dedicated to testing monkeypox samples opened this week. The lab in Indianapolis will be the primary testing site for suspected monkeypox samples in Indiana.

Due to limited supplies, the monkeypox vaccine is currently reserved for those at highest risk of contracting the virus.

The Indiana Department of Health is hosting monkeypox vaccination clinics for anyone who is at risk of exposure, including people who have been exposed to monkeypox and people who may be more likely to get it.

Only a handful of monkeypox cases in the U.S. are among children, out of thousands reported so far. Yet infectious disease experts are keeping a close eye on pediatric cases.

Michigan health officials announced a massive expansion of eligibility for the MPV vaccine, just as the FDA issued an emergency use authorization that means the 6,400 doses the state has on hand could immunize more than 30,000 people.

There are 62 confirmed cases of monkeypox statewide as of Wednesday. State health officials expect cases to rise.

Michigan has received 3,800 doses of monkeypox vaccine from the federal government and will use them for first doses for people who may have been exposed.

Even before the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a global health emergency, Indiana officials were determining how to best respond to a potential monkeypox outbreak.