First case of rare monkeypox detected in Texas resident who traveled to Nigeria

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said an uncommon case of human monkeypox was discovered in Texas on Friday, this is now the first case of the virus detected in the state.

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Monkeypox

The monkeypox virus was discovered in a U.S. resident, who traveled from Nigeria to the United States recently and the patient is currently hospitalized in Dallas. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said due to the fact that this illness is rare, it is not a reason to be worried and threats are not expected to the general public.

Apart from Nigeria, outbreaks of this monkeypox have also been reported since 1970 in central and western African countries. In 2003, more outbreak was recorded in people in the United States, as per the CDC.

CDC reveals it was working with the airline, local, and state health officials to get in touch with passengers and others who may have had some contact with the carrier.

Symptoms of Monkeypox

Monkeypox belongs to the smallpox family, and it is an uncommon but possibly severe viral illness that normally starts with symptoms that might seem as if the individual has a flu, inflammation of the lymph nodes, slowly developing to an extensive rash on the face and body.

For the symptom to develop, It normally takes 7 to 14 days following the exposure of a person to the monkeypox virus, as per the CDC. The syptoms of this virus are similar to some other viruses: fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches.

Through respiratory droplets, it can be transmitted from person to person. The CDC said since travelers were putting on masks because of the COVID-19, the risk of transmission of monkeypox through respiratory droplets to people on the planes and in the airports is little.

CDC added, saying the disease carrier got infected with the strain most usually discovered in parts of West Africa, both Nigeria.

(Photo : Getty Images)

Reported Cases of Monkeypox Virus

Before the current case, there have been no fewer than six reported monkeypox cases in travelers coming back from Nigeria, including in Israel, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, as per the CDC. This recent case has nothing to do with the previous cases.

In a press release, director of the Dallas County Health and Human Services, Dr. Philip Huang said: “This is another instance of the cruciality of keeping up a strong public health infrastructure, as we are just a plane ride away from any worldwide infectious disease.”

The virus was first discovered in laboratory monkeys in the late 1950s and this was where it got its name. In 1970, it was found in humans in Congo.

There is no particular vaccine for the treatment of monkeypox, the CDC says, though in 2003 the smallpox vaccine was used so as to help curb the outbreak.

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