The first possible case of monkeypox virus has occurred in New Jersey, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.
The department said Monday that tests confirmed the presence of orthopoxvirus in a person in northern New Jersey on Saturday. Further tests to confirm the virus will be conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The health ministry said those affected are in home isolation and contact tracing is being conducted to identify others who may have been infected.
Monkeypox has been confirmed in 20 states and the District of Columbia. It can be spread by prolonged close contact with infected people or animals. It originates from primates and other wild animals and causes fever, body aches, chills and fatigue in most patients. Severe cases may cause rashes and lesions on the face, hands, and other parts of the body.
The World Health Organization says monkeypox patients can be contagious for up to four weeks and advises to isolate until fully recovered.
Smallpox-related illnesses are common in parts of Central and West Africa. But this year, he has reported 1,880 cases in more than 30 countries where monkeypox is not normally found.
WHO is convening an emergency meeting this week to determine whether the outbreak should be considered a global health emergency.
Monkeypox does not spread as easily as COVID.It is much easier to identify and vaccinate close contacts