LA County has recorded a second suspected monkeypox case

Los Angeles County reported a second suspected case of monkeypox.

The Public Health Service said Wednesday that the latest case occurred in an adult who recently traveled. “They are symptomatic, but they are doing well and isolated from others,” officials said in a statement.

This brings the total number of suspected monkeypox cases in California to eight as of Wednesday afternoon.

“The risk of monkeypox in the general population is still very low,” the county health official said in a statement. According to the California Public Health Service, Sacramento County reported five cases of confirmed and suspected monkeypox, and San Francisco reported one case on Friday.

Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said last week that there were no signs of a local outbreak of monkeypox, but added that “we need to be prepared to see more cases.”

LA County first time Suspicious incident last week. Both cases in LA County occurred in people who recently traveled. They were both isolated.

“Most of the time it resolves spontaneously, but in rare cases monkeypox can become serious and we want to prevent further spread in the community,” said Dr. Susan Philip, a San Francisco health doctor. I am.

As of Wednesday afternoon, 40 people were confirmed and suspected Case of monkeypox Nationally, it is the most common in New York (9). California (8); Florida (4); Colorado and Illinois (3 each); Utah and District of Columbia (2 each).

In the current outbreak, 1,200 confirmed and suspected monkeypox cases have been reported, primarily in 29 countries in Europe and North America.Of them, the UK report Over 300; Spain and Portugal, about 200 each. And more than 100 each in Germany and Canada.

Authorities said it was important for people to become aware of their symptoms and for healthcare providers to pay attention to new cases. This is because in some recent cases the first rash seen in the genital area may resemble a more common sexually transmitted disease. Infection. Health officials say they want to contain the outbreak of monkeypox, but say the virus may have already spread to the community.

Certain monkeypox subspecies found in most cases in the United States are associated with European subspecies, said Lieutenant Jennifer McKistton, Deputy Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s High-Results Pathogens and Pathology Department. Said at a press conference. last week.

Nationally, most cases of monkeypox known to the CDC involve people who have recently traveled or have been in close contact with an infected person. But at least one of the recent incidents in the United States involves someone who doesn’t know how he or she was exposed to the virus, McQuiston said.

“This could be happening in other parts of the United States — there may be community-level communications happening, and that’s why we really want to increase our surveillance efforts,” McKistton said. Said. “We really want to encourage doctors to go ahead and test it if they see a rash and are concerned that it could be monkeypox.”

Health officials say early data indicate that many of the current cases of monkeypox are among men who have sex with men. However, anyone can get the virus, including healthcare professionals and family members who care for the sick. According to McQuiston, one recent case occurred in a woman.

Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 in a colony of monkeys bred for scientific research. Most human cases of monkeypox have been historically identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the first human cases were identified in 1970. Monkeypox virus is naturally found in certain wildlife in the country. According to the CDC, rodents and monkeys can hide the virus and infect people.

For travelers around the world, CDC Level 2 Monkeypox Travel AlertWarnings about cases of monkeypox associated with current outbreaks on all continents except Antarctica.

The CDC has urged travelers around the world to avoid close contact with sick people, including skin and genital lesions. Avoid contact with dead or living wildlife such as small mammals and non-human primates such as monkeys and apes. Avoid eating meat from wild hunting meat or using products from African wildlife such as creams, powders and lotions. Avoid contact with contaminants used by sick people such as clothing. And wear a mask that can provide additional protection against many illnesses.

Given that monkeypox is not as contagious as other infectious diseases such as COVID-19, health officials have emphasized that the threat is low. Among humans, monkeypox can be transmitted by close and persistent skin-to-skin contact with people who have a lively rash or monkeypox skin pain. The virus can spread during sexual and intimate contact, and through shared bedding and clothing. It can also spread by kissing or breathing at a very close distance.

Monkeypox can also spread from animals to humans through bites and scratches, handling wild games, or using products made from infected animals.

Spreading into the air is a monkeypox infection, given that disease investigations have shown that people infected with monkeypox, which are likely to be transmitted during flight, did not spread the virus to other passengers. Not considered the primary means.

Health officials and experts have sought to balance warnings while people generally recover from their illness, while emphasizing the urgency of containing the outbreak and identifying the case. They also warn that skin lesions can be painful.

“It can be really painful, and some patients report that they need prescription analgesics to manage their pain. Pain can also cause long-term scarring on the skin. There is, “says McQuiston.

Traditionally, monkeypox is thought to begin with fever and feeling unwell, followed by a rash. However, in some recent cases, the rash first appeared. Other symptoms include headache, muscle aches, back pain, chills, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes. Rare complications include lesions that appear in the eye that can endanger vision.

The monkeypox rash causes rounded skin lesions that turn into papules as they progress. Papules are bumpy areas of the skin that look like a pencil eraser. Then it can be filled with a clear liquid. pus..

The rash may appear to resemble syphilis or herpes, which is much more common than monkeypox. Healthcare providers need to pay attention to potential cases and ask for testing if monkeypox is suspected, as it can be difficult to distinguish monkeypox from other illnesses, McKistton said. Stated. In some recent cases in Europe, people are infected with both monkeypox and sexually transmitted diseases at the same time.

“They need to test for monkeypox, even if they think they could test positive for another more common sexually transmitted disease,” McKistton said.

No deaths from monkeypox are currently reported worldwide, according to McKistton. Patients whose cases have been reviewed by the CDC as of last week have recovered or have already recovered. “Patients who still have a rash are advised to stay home and stay away from others until they are fully recovered.”

Full recovery “occurs when all the pain becomes a scab, the scab falls off, and new healthy skin appears,” McKistton said.With all scabs, one is no longer contagious fell..

According to McKistton, a recent case of monkeypox in the United States known to the CDC authorities is an adult, who was reported traveling abroad 21 days before the onset of symptoms. It usually takes 7 to 14 days after exposure to monkeypox until symptoms appear, but it can take up to 21 days.

Mr McKistton said authorities are working hard to contain the outbreak.

“Our containment strategy focuses on case identification, contact identification, ensuring vaccine delivery, and isolating cases to prevent future epidemics,” McKistton said. I am.

Officials say there are concerns about recent outbreaks, as cases of monkeypox are not usually found in the United States.

Previously the only United States Outbreak Monkeypox occurred in 2003, and 71 cases were confirmed or suspected. It occurred primarily in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Illinois. Infected people were in contact with pet prairie dogs obtained from suburban animal dealers. Chicago It was housed near a giant Gambian rat and dormouse from Ghana.

Monkeypox can be fatal in countries with scarce medical resources, but the 2003 outbreak in the United States was not fatal.