Here’s What Dr. Ocaranza Told Us About Monkeypox In El Paso

The El Paso County Health authority, Dr. Hector Ocaranza, came to our studios in person to answer some frequently asked questions about monkeypox in the borderland.

First and foremost: DON’T PANIC. That’s great advice from the cover of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

Dr. O. also says that’s the best advice when it comes to monkeypox.

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So far there is only 1 reported case of monkeypox in El Paso. DON’T PANIC.

Next, Dr. Ocaranza tells us, that monkeypox cases are NOT exclusive to the LGBTQ community. However, he says, 98% of all cases, so far, have been found among men who have sexual relations with other men. Also, he says, the infections, for now, are prevalent among younger men.

Dr. Ocaranza told us monkeypox can be identified by a particular type of rash. In the interest of clarity, here’s a link to the CDC page that has multiple photos of what monkeypox looks like. Don’t just do a Google search. Lots of results will come back that ARE NOT photos of actual monkeypox.

Avoid contact if you see this distinctive rash.

Dr. Ocaranza also encourages the use of condoms during sex, ESPECIALLY for people in the aforementioned demographic.

DON’T PANIC. Look for the rash. If you see it, avoid skin-to-skin contact. For now, at least, Dr. O also recommends avoiding surfaces that may have been touched by a person with monkeypox.

There is a possible risk of coming into contact in a large crowd where skin-to-skin contact is possible. The main risk though seems to be close, personal, and intimate contact.

DON’T PANIC.