Most of the infections were initially misdiagnosed as sexually transmitted infections such as genital herpes.
Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease in the traditional sense, though transmission relies on sustained contact with contaminated surfaces such as bed linens or someone with the characteristic lesions and skin rash. Of the total number of cases in the U.S., 16 were in men who identified as gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men. “Ongoing investigation suggests person-to-person community transmission, and CDC urges health departments, clinicians, and the public to remain vigilant, institute appropriate infection prevention and control measures, and notify public health authorities of suspected cases to reduce disease spread,” the authors of a CDC report said.įLORIDA MOVES TO BLOCK TRANSITION HEALTHCARE FOR TRANS YOUTH While not all cases have been confirmed to be monkeypox, they are presumed to be until proven otherwise. As of May 31, nine states - California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, New York, Utah, Virginia, and Washington - have reported 17 patients with confirmed infections of orthopoxvirus, the family of viruses that encompasses monkeypox and smallpox. The current tally is eight more than last week. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified 17 cases of monkeypox in the United States as of May 31, with most cases occurring in gay and bisexual men.
