US’s First Case of Monkeypox Reported in Massachusetts

Massachusetts reported a rare case of monkeypox in a man who recently traveled to Canada on Wednesday, and health officials are investigating whether it is associated with a minor outbreak in Europe.

Monkeypox is usually confined to Africa, and rare cases in the United States and other regions are generally associated with travel to Africa. This month, a small number of confirmed or suspicious cases were reported in the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Spain.

US health officials said they were in contact with the UK and Canadian authorities as part of the investigation. The proceedings in the United States pose no risk to the general public, and residents of Massachusetts are hospitalized, but in good condition.

Monkeypox usually begins with a flu-like illness and swollen lymph nodes, followed by a rash on the face and body. In Africa, humans are bitten and infected by rodents and small animals which usually do not spread easily.

Monkeypox comes from the same viral family as smallpox. According to the World Health Organization, most people recover from monkeypox within a few weeks, but the disease is fatal in 1 out of 10 people.