Health officials in both Indiana and Missouri reported their states’ first probable monkeypox cases on Saturday, brining the nationwide total of confirmed and suspected cases to more than 113.
The probable Missouri case has been identified in Kansas City, while health officials did not specify a location for the Indiana patient.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will do further testing to confirm both cases.
According to WTHR, the Indiana patient remains isolated, but no other details were immediately available. State health officials said they are working to identify anyone the patient may have had close contact with while infectious.
#BREAKING: Indiana Department of Health says the first probable case of Monkeypox has been identified in Indiana. The patient remains isolated, and health officials are working to identify anyone they may have had close contact with while infectious. pic.twitter.com/2T9z77ltOp
— Max Lewis (@MaxLewisTV) June 18, 2022
Meanwhile, the Kansas City patient had recently traveled out of state, according to a statement issued by the Missouri Health Department.
JUST IN: Missouri's first confirmed case of monkeypox is a Kansas City, Missouri resident. pic.twitter.com/gAxli8qSnH
— Sam Hartle (@Sam_Hartle) June 18, 2022
Typically endemic to parts of west Africa, monkeypox typically begins with flu-like symptoms and swelling of the lymphnodes before progressing to a rash on the face and body. Most infections last 2 to 4 weeks, KSDK reported.
In addition to fever, headache, back pain, muscle aches and low energy, monkeypox can also cause a rash and lesions on the face or genitals.
The CDC has confirmed 113 monkeypox cases across 21 states the District of Columbia in 2022.
To date, California has confirmed the most infections with 24 cases, followed by New York with 21 cases and Illinois with 15 cases. Meanwhile, Florida has confirmed 10 cases; Massachusetts has confirmed seven cases; Colorado and Hawaii have each confirmed five cases; Washington, D.C. has confirmed four cases; Georgia has confirmed three cases; Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Washington have each confirmed two cases; and Arizona, Maryland, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island and Virginia have each confirmed one case, according to CDC data.
Globally, the World Health Organization has confirmed a cumulative 2022 total of 2,103 laboratory-confirmed monkeypox cases, one probable case and one death across 42 countries.
According to The Associated Press, a recent genetic analysis of monkeypox cases suggests two distinct strains may be circulating in the United States. The same strain caused many U.S. cases as recent cases in Europe, but a few samples show a different strain, federal health officials said on Friday.
©2022 Cox Media Group
