Two more states have announced probably monkeypox cases over the past weekend as the rare virus continues to spread across the United States.
“This week, one of our excellent nurses suspected one of our patients may have monkeypox virus,” said Dr. Marvia Jones, Director of the Kansas City Health Department in a news release. “We are considering this a probable case of monkeypox virus until we receive final confirmation from the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] labs. We appreciate the work our disease investigation and nursing staff have done to educate themselves on this rare virus and be on alert for it.”
There is no indication that there is an extensive local spread of monkeypox in Missouri, the agency said, which noted that the virus doesn’t spread as quickly as COVID-19.
In Indiana, the state Department of Health said it was investigating a possible case of the virus. It did not disclose the location of the patient, saying the individual is currently in isolation.
Both health agencies noted that person-to-person transmission of monkeypox occurs through close physical contact, or through extended contact with contaminated materials such as clothing, linen, bedding, and other items.
“Monkeypox is a rare, but potentially serious viral illness, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus family, and typically begins with flu-like symptoms and swelling of the lymph nodes, and progresses to a rash on the face and body. Most infections last 2 to 4 weeks,” according to the Missouri health agency. “Monkeypox is typically endemic to parts of central and west Africa, and people can be exposed through bites or scratches from rodents and small mammals, preparing wild game, or having contact with an infected animal or possibly animal products.”
Health agencies around the world and in the United States have suggested that homosexual males appear to have an exceptionally high risk of transmitting the virus.
