HOUSTON – A Harris County Jail inmate has tested positive for monkeypox, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said Thursday.
In a news conference, officials said the inmate, who appeared to be in his 30s, was booked on Aug. 15 and tested positive for the virus on Aug. 22.
Sheriff Gonzalez said the inmate is being placed in temporary quarantine and officials with HCSO have activated protocols for contact tracing. County health officials were also notified.
Marquita Casely-Hayford, medical liasion for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the risk of monkeypox remains very low inside the jail.
Officials will also follow COVID-19 protocols, including cleaning and disinfecting protocols, Gonzalez said.
We have the first confirmed positive case of monkeypox virus in the Harris County jail. The male inmate was booked on 8-15-22 without complaints. In accordance with our COVID protocols, the male was placed in temporary quarantine. He was in quarantine when we learned of 1/2 pic.twitter.com/zLNcty55Jq
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) August 25, 2022