Minnesota has reported an alleged case of monkeypox, an infectious disease that has raised concern because it arose worldwide this spring and has been found in 26 states in the United States.
The infection announced Monday involves a Twin Cities man who is receiving outpatient treatment for an infection that likely occurred during the trip to Europe. The state public health lab identified the infection Saturday night with a positive test result, which is being confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The man did not appear to have close contacts in Minnesota that present a high risk of spreading the virus to other people, said Dr. Ruth Lynfield, a state epidemiologist and medical director of the Minnesota Department of Health.
The risk to the general public is low because the monkeypox virus does not spread as easily as other infectious agents that cause measles, flu, or COVID-19. Transmission often involves prolonged face-to-face exposure or contact with infectious sores or body fluids, or with contaminated clothing or other items.
“It’s important for everyone to be aware of this disease, so that people at risk can seek medical attention and get tested quickly if they think they have symptoms,” Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said.
The CDC has identified more than 200 cases of smallpox in 26 states. Common symptoms include fever, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that may look like pimples or blisters. Some people in the outbreak have only reported rashes, which are usually found on the hands, feet, face or genitals.
Antiviral treatments and vaccines are available, but they are used on a case-by-case basis. The CDC recommends the monkeypox vaccine before exposure only to health care workers and researchers working with the virus.
People with monkeypox are considered infectious until their rashes have healed. Typical illnesses last two to four weeks. Rare cases can cause pneumonia or be fatal.
The World Health Organization expressed concern this year that monkeypox is spreading from person to person and occurs outside of Africa and in countries that normally have no cases.
Infection groups are common in closely related social groups and have been identified globally in groups of men who have sex with other men. Close physical or sexual contact with an infected person is a risk of transmission, but monkeypox is not considered a sexually transmitted infection and there are other risks of exposure.
Health authorities in New York and England responded to the case groups by offering a vaccine to gay and bisexual men who may have been exposed to the virus through recent sexual activities with multiple or anonymous partners.
“Holy this is the first case in Minnesota … it seems maybe a little early” to consider that …