Smallpox has been found in 12 states and Washington, DC, just weeks after it was first detected in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The agency stressed that the virus, which spreads through prolonged skin-to-skin contact, is not a high risk to the public.
However, the CDC raised its monkeypox warning level to a level 2 concern, meaning that Americans should be careful when traveling, but should not cancel their plans. .
A person infected with monkeypox can form painful rashes and lesions. The virus lasts two to four weeks and a person is no longer infected once the lesions heal.
Most cases in the U.S. have been found in men who have sex with other men. A case has been discovered in a woman who had had heterosexual sex.
The United States has not reported any deaths from smallpox cases, and officials are working to contain the cases by identifying who was exposed to the virus and vaccinating them.
There are currently more than 30 cases in the country.
“The strain of monkeypox virus that affects patients in this outbreak is the West African clade, and this is less severe than other known clades. [such as] the clade in the Congo Basin, which means it has caused fewer deaths in historic outbreaks in Africa, “said Jennifer McQuiston, deputy director of the CDC’s Division of Pathogens and High-Consequence Pathology.
These are the states that are known to have cases of smallpox:
California
California has at least six known cases of monkeypox in the state. The first case was announced on May 27.
The patient was from Sacramento County and recently traveled to Europe. The individual was not hospitalized and isolated in his home.
Los Angeles County filed its first case on June 2, saying the person traveled recently and was in close contact with someone who probably had the virus.
The individual was symptomatic but did not need to be hospitalized.
Colorado
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) announced the first case of monkeypox in the state on May 26.
The first case was a young adult man who traveled to Canada, and a second case was reported of a man who was in close contact with the first individual, according to the state health department, Rocky reported. Mountain PBS.
It has since been confirmed that a third individual in Colorado had contracted smallpox.
Florida
Florida has four registered cases of smallpox in the state, with the first announced on May 22.
The first case involved a person from Broward County who recently traveled outside the United States
Since then, two more cases have emerged in the area. CBS Miami reported that one case was of a person traveling internationally and another was of a person who contracted the virus in Florida.
The CDC also reported a fourth case in the state of Sunshine.
Georgia
The state announced its first case of smallpox on June 6 in a man in the Atlanta metropolitan area.
The man has a history of international travel and has been isolated at home.
No more cases have been reported in Georgia so far.
Hawaii
Hawaii announced a probable case of monkeypox on June 4 in a state resident.
The patient recently traveled to an area known to have cases, according to the state health department.
The person is in hospital and in stable condition.
Illinois
On June 2, the first case of monkeypox in Illinois was announced in a man who recently traveled to Europe.
The individual was a Chicago resident who was isolated at home and in “good condition,” according to the state.
A second case was announced a day later in another Chicago resident who was a close contact of the first man.
Massachusetts
The first case of monkeypox in the United States was found in Massachusetts and was announced on May 18.
The case was in an adult man who recently traveled to Canada. The state said the individual was in the hospital and in good condition when the infection was announced.
No more cases have been reported in the state since.
New York
New York has confirmed that seven people have contracted smallpox from the monkey after the first case was confirmed on May 26.
The state did not say where people traveled recently, but warned that those who have traveled to Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, Canada or Central or West African countries are at higher risk for the virus.
The state also said that men who have sex with men and anyone who has close physical contact with others are at high risk.
Pennsylvania
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health announced the state’s first smallpox case on June 2.
The case was in a Philadelphia resident, but no further information was given about the patient.
“The threat to Philadelphians from monkeypox is extremely low,” said Dana Perella, director of the Department of Health’s acute communicable disease program. “Monkeypox is much less contagious than COVID-19 and can be controlled, especially when seeking prompt attention to symptoms.”
Utah
In Utah, the Salt Lake County Department of Health issued a May 23 announcement of two probable cases of smallpox.
The cases were in two adult men living in the same household. The two traveled internationally in early May.
People had mild cases, according to the department, and were expected to fully recover.
Virginia
Virginia announced her first case of smallpox on May 26 in a resident woman.
The woman recently traveled to an African country where the monkeypox virus is present, according to the state.
She was isolated at home and did not require hospitalization.
Washington
Washington reported a case on May 27 and has not seen any more recorded cases of monkeypox since.
The state said the individual was isolated at home and did not need hospitalization, but did not disclose recent travel history.
None of the people exposed to the patient considered a positive case possible.
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Washington dc
The District of Columbia on Monday announced its first case of smallpox in an individual who recently traveled to Europe.
Authorities said close contacts were being monitored and no further cases had been reported.