Monkeypox Cases Have Now Been Found in These 23 States

Monkeypox has now been found in 23 U.S. states in an outbreak that has seen over 3,300 confirmed cases worldwide across 42 countries, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Monkeypox, a virus usually seen in Central and West Africa, is currently spreading across non-endemic countries, including Europe and North America. It is a zoonotic virus originally transmitted from animals to humans, with symptoms similar but less clinically severe as those experienced by smallpox patients in the past.

While some earlier cases have been associated with gay and bisexual men—with many stemming from a single conference event—anyone of any sexuality can contract the disease, as it is transmitted from one person to another by physical contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials. There is no currently conclusive evidence that monkeypox is classifiable as a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Symptoms may include fever, headaches, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and exhaustion, followed by a characteristic skin rash that can cause scarring.

The list of states where monkeypox has now been found include (There have been four reported cases in Washington D.C.):

Arizona

California

Colorado

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Illinois

Indiana

Maryland

Massachusetts

Missouri

Nevada

New Jersey

New York

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Texas

Utah

Virginia

Washington

Arizona

Arizona was thought to have a single case of monkeypox, as of June 22. The patient is a man in his late 30s who is currently in isolation and recovering. Testing at the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory returned a presumptive positive result, which was confirmed by the CDC.

“ADHS [Arizona Department of Health Services] is working closely with local health departments throughout Arizona to identify and respond quickly to any potential cases,” said Don Herrington, ADHS interim director. “It’s important to note that monkeypox is highly controllable through simple precautions.”

California

California had reported 39 cases of monkeypox as of June 21.

“While it’s good to stay alert about any emerging public health outbreaks, the current risk of getting monkeypox in the general public is very low,” said the California Department for Public Health.

Colorado

Colorado had five cases of monkeypox as of June 16. Scott Bookman, director of the Colorado Department of…