The first probable case of monkeypox in New Hampshire has been identified, health officials said Wednesday.The patient is a resident of Rockingham County, and the Department of Health and Human Services said that because of privacy concerns, no further information about the patient would be released.The New Hampshire Public Health Laboratories first identified the case, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is conducting tests to confirm it.”We did testing at the state public health laboratories, which did test positive,” said Dr. Jonathan Ballard, chief medical officer at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. “They have a quick turnaround. So in the next coming days we’ll know the confirmatory status. However, typically in these cases that are positive at the state level, they typically come back positive at the confirmatory stage.”DHHS officials are working to identify others who might have been exposed. Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the same group of viruses as smallpox. Transmission of monkeypox requires close interaction with a symptomatic person. Brief interactions do not appear to be high-risk, and transmission has usually involved close physical or intimate contact or health care examinations conducted not using appropriate protective equipment, DHHS said.Monkeypox has been present in humans since the 1970s.”This year though, we’ve seen over 4,000 cases worldwide,” Ballard said. The incidence of monkeypox cases has been growing across the country. The CDC identified 224 monkeypox cases in 26 states as of June 27.Initial symptoms typically include fever, headache, exhaustion, muscle aches, sore throat, cough, and swollen lymph nodes. A few days after the start of these symptoms, a skin rash or skin spots appear that change over time. People with monkeypox are contagious until all skin lesions have scabbed over and fallen off a person’s skin, health officials said. The illness usually lasts for two to four weeks. Symptoms are usually mild, but in rare cases, a more severe illness can occur that might require hospitalization. Any person with a new skin rash or skin lesions concerning monkeypox, especially if accompanied by other monkeypox symptoms, should talk to their health care provider. Testing should be considered if the skin rash and other symptoms occurred: Within a few weeks after traveling to another country where monkeypox is being reported. After close contact with a person who has a similar skin rash or who is suspected or confirmed to have monkeypox. After intimate physical or sexual contact with a partner, especially after intimate or sexual contact that occurred during travel.
The first probable case of monkeypox in New Hampshire has been identified, health officials said Wednesday.
The patient is a resident of Rockingham County, and the Department of Health and Human Services said that because of privacy concerns, no further information about the patient would be released.
The New Hampshire Public Health Laboratories first identified the case, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is conducting tests to confirm it.
“We did testing at the state public health laboratories, which did test positive,” said Dr. Jonathan Ballard, chief medical officer at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. “They have a quick turnaround. So in the next coming days we’ll know the confirmatory status. However, typically in these cases that are positive at the state level, they typically come back positive at the confirmatory stage.”
DHHS officials are working to identify others who might have been exposed.
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the same group of viruses as smallpox. Transmission of monkeypox requires close interaction with a symptomatic person. Brief interactions do not appear to be high-risk, and transmission has usually involved close physical or intimate contact or health care examinations conducted not using appropriate protective equipment, DHHS said.
Monkeypox has been present in humans since the 1970s.
“This year though, we’ve seen over 4,000 cases worldwide,” Ballard said.
The incidence of monkeypox cases has been growing across the country. The CDC identified 224 monkeypox cases in 26 states as of June 27.
Initial symptoms typically include fever, headache, exhaustion, muscle aches, sore throat, cough, and swollen lymph nodes. A few days after the start of these symptoms, a skin rash or skin spots appear that change over time.
People with monkeypox are contagious until all skin lesions have scabbed over and fallen off a person’s skin, health officials said. The illness usually lasts for two to four weeks. Symptoms are usually mild, but in rare cases, a more severe illness can occur that might require hospitalization.
Any person with a new skin rash or skin lesions concerning monkeypox, especially if accompanied by other monkeypox symptoms, should talk to their health care provider. Testing should be considered if the skin rash and other symptoms occurred:
- Within a few weeks after traveling to another country where monkeypox is being reported.
- After close contact with a person who has a similar skin rash or who is suspected or confirmed to have monkeypox.
- After intimate physical or sexual contact with a partner, especially after intimate or sexual contact that occurred during travel.
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