On Thursday, the Biden administration declared the monkeypox virus a public health emergency.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more than 6,000 cases nationwide.
In Georgia, there are 504 cases. Four of those cases are women.
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Audrey Washington from Channel 2 spoke to the first woman in Georgia to contract the virus.
“I am in the healing phase. As you can see my face is starting to scab,” Camille Seaton said. “I saw bumps break out and I’m not kidding you, in the same streak and I just thought it was a breakout.”
Seaton said the outbreak, along with headaches, chills and fatigue, did not go away.
She went to the emergency room and was tested.
“I was waiting for the results and it was positive. I had monkey pox,” Seaton said.
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Infectious disease doctors said those currently most affected by the virus are gay or bisexual men.
Doctors also said anyone can contract the virus through close contact.
Seaton is a cashier and thinks she probably had monkey pox at work.
“I want you all to know that I did not do anything sexual to contract this disease. This thing is spreading. It’s here,” Seaton said.
Washington spoke with Dr. Jayne Morgan, executive director of the COVID-19 Task Force for Piedmont Healthcare Corporation, asked her how transmissible the virus is and what, in addition to getting the vaccine, people can do to stay monkeypox-free.
“You can get it by sharing towels and bedding, if the person who used the towel or slept in that bed is infected with the monkeypox virus,” Morgan said. “Normal cleaning and disinfection processes should be maintained.”
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Seaton said she wants everyone who hears her story to take the virus seriously.
“These scars will fade, but you’ll notice it forever,” Seaton said.
Seaton is still isolated and unemployed. She started a GoFundMe account to cover costs.
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