Monkeypox: First probable case reported in Missouri, Indiana

The Indiana Department of Health also said it was investigating a possible case of monkeypox, but did not say the location of the patient, who they said was isolated.

Contact tracking is underway in both states. The initial testing was performed in the laboratories of the State Department of Health and is to be confirmed in the laboratories of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States.

“The risk of monkeypox in the general public remains extremely low,” said Indiana Health Commissioner Dr. Chris Box. “Monkeypox is rare and does not spread easily with brief accidental contact.”

As of Friday, the CDC has reported more than 110 confirmed cases of monkeypox / orthopoxvirus in a number of countries. California has 24 cases, followed by New York with 21 and Illinois with 15.

The Houston, Texas health department confirmed its first case of monkeypox on Saturday.

“The resident has developed symptoms after returning from a trip and is suffering from a mild illness,” a statement from the Houston Health Department said in a statement. “The resident did not need to be hospitalized and was isolated at home.

The first case of monkeypox in the United States in 2022 was reported in mid-May, when a Massachusetts resident tested positive after returning from Canada. There are more than 2,103 confirmed cases and 1 suspected case of monkeypox reported to the World Health Organization this year from 42 countries, including one death in Nigeria, according to an update from the WHO.

Monkeypox is a rare infection, much less severe cousin of the already eradicated smallpox virus. It is endemic to parts of West and Central Africa and is usually infected by a rodent or small mammal. It is not easily transmitted from one person to another.

However, the monkeypox virus can be spread by contact with body fluids, monkeypox wounds, or items such as clothing and bedding contaminated with the virus. It can also be spread from person to person through respiratory droplets, usually in a tight environment, according to the CDC.