(Observer Network News) On May 18, the Massachusetts Department of Health issued a statement saying that a case of monkeypox has been confirmed in the state. This is the first such case in the United States this year.
Screenshot of the statement from the Massachusetts Department of Health
The statement noted that the sick man had a recent travel experience to Canada. The case was tested in Boston on the evening of the 17th, and the CDC confirmed the case on the 18th.
At present, the man has been hospitalized for treatment and is currently in good condition and will not pose a threat to the public.
Monkeypox is a rare viral infection that most patients recover within a few weeks, but can cause serious illness in some, health officials said. Before causing the rash, the onset period is characterized by fever and swollen lymph nodes.
Monkeypox patients
Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease with symptoms in humans similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients. The virus can be transmitted from animals to humans through direct close contact, and it can also spread from person to person. The main routes of infection include blood and body fluids. However, monkeypox is far less contagious than the smallpox virus.
It is worth mentioning that there have been cases of monkeypox in many countries, 9 cases have been reported in the United Kingdom, 23 cases in Spain, and 5 cases in Portugal.