After several cases in Great Britain, Spain and Portugal, monkeypox has now also been found in the US. The disease was registered in a Massachusetts resident in the northeast of the country, the CDC health authority said Wednesday. The person recently traveled to Canada – but the virus was found in the United States.
Monkeypox is usually transmitted through the air. However, in some of the recent cases, experts suspected a fluid infection because the patients were gay men. Following the cases in Britain, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) had recently notified doctors in Germany about the virus infection.
An article published by the RKI states that monkeypox should also be considered as a possible cause in the case of indistinct pox-like skin changes if those affected have not traveled to certain areas. Monkeypox was previously mainly known from some regions of Africa. According to the RKI, men who have sex with men should “seek immediate medical attention” for unusual skin changes.
First infection in Nigeria?
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the number of recorded cases of the rare disease in Britain had risen to seven as of Monday. The first infection, which became known in Great Britain at the beginning of May, is said to be due to an infection in Nigeria.
Usually no serious courses
According to the UKHSA, the viral illness usually causes only mild symptoms, but can also lead to severe courses. Smallpox has been considered eradicated worldwide since 1980 after a major vaccination campaign. Experts suspect that the monkeypox pathogen circulates in rodents and that monkeys are considered false hosts.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
