Massachusetts health officials confirmed five new monkeypox cases in the last week. The state’s total now sits at 435.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health provides monkeypox updates on Thursdays. Cases have decreased since last week’s report. The rate of new cases has now declined in 10 of the last 11 weeks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified 27,835 U.S. cases this year.
Monkeypox is rarely fatal. Health officials are now aware of four deaths from the illness in the U.S. this year. Worldwide as of Thursday, the CDC is aware of 32 deaths as a result of the current outbreak.
A U.S. public health emergency was declared Aug. 4, a move that could facilitate access to emergency funds, allow the Biden administration to collect more data about cases and vaccinations, accelerate vaccine distribution and make it easier for doctors to prescribe treatment. The state’s fully-Democratic Congressional delegation has urged Republican Gov. Charlie Baker to make a similar move in Massachusetts.
The DPH is giving out the vaccine at clinics, initially limited to Boston and Provincetown due to limited supply. The program has since expanded to include clinics in Cambridge, Framingham, Lawrence, New Bedford, Randolph, Somerville, Springfield and Worcester. Eligibility limits on who can get them remain in effect.
As of Thursday, Massachusetts had administered 30,958 doses of the vaccine, the DPH said.
We already have vaccines and treatments approved for monkeypox
What is monkeypox?
Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958, when outbreaks occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research — resulting in its name.
The first case in a human was reported in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which still has the majority of infections. Other African countries where it has been found: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone.
Human symptoms of monkeypox are similar to but milder than the symptoms of smallpox, the CDC says. It presents itself as a flu-like illness accompanied by lymph-node swelling and rash on the face and body.
Monkeypox starts off with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion. Monkeypox also causes lymph nodes to swell, something that smallpox does not. The incubation period is usually 7−14 days but can range from 5−21 days.
The CDC is urging healthcare providers in the U.S. to be alert for patients who have rashes consistent with monkeypox, regardless of whether they have traveled or have specific risks for monkeypox. See more information from the travel notice here.
Monkeypox is a rare virus first discovered in 1958.
How do you catch monkeypox?
The CDC issued new monkeypox guidance earlier this month as the number of suspected cases nationwide boomed, marking America’s largest-ever outbreak of monkeypox, which typically has been confined to other continents.
While the CDC says the risk to the general public remains low, people are urged to avoid close contact with those who are sick, including those with skin or genital lesions, as well as sick or dead animals. Anyone displaying symptoms, like unexplained skin rash or lesions, should reach out to their healthcare providers for guidance.
What you should do if you think you might have monkeypox
Anyone with a rash that looks like monkeypox should talk to their healthcare provider, even if they don’t think they had contact with someone who has monkeypox. According to the CDC, people who may be at higher risk might include but are not limited to those who:
- Had contact with someone who had a rash that looks like monkeypox or someone who was diagnosed with confirmed or probable monkeypox
- Had skin-to-skin contact with someone in a social network experiencing monkeypox activity, this includes men who have sex with men who meet partners through an online website, app or social event
- Traveled outside the U.S. to a country with confirmed cases of monkeypox or where monkeypox activity has been ongoing
- Had contact with a dead or live wild animal or exotic pet that exists only in Africa or used a product derived from such animals
We already have vaccines and treatments approved for monkeypox
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?
Human symptoms of monkeypox are similar to but milder than the symptoms of smallpox, the CDC says. It presents itself as a flu-like illness accompanied by lymph-node swelling and rash on the face and body.
Monkeypox starts off with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion. Monkeypox also causes lymph nodes to swell, something that smallpox does not. The incubation period is usually 7 to 14 days but can range from 5 to 21 days.
The CDC is urging healthcare providers in the U.S. to be alert for patients who have rashes consistent with monkeypox, regardless of whether they have traveled or have specific risks for monkeypox. See more information from the travel notice here.
Symptoms take 7-14 days to show, but can take up to 21 days to show
Massachusetts health officials confirmed five new monkeypox cases in the last week. The state’s total now sits at 435.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health provides monkeypox updates on Thursdays. Cases have decreased since last week’s report. The rate of new cases has now declined in 10 of the last 11 weeks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified 27,835 U.S. cases this year.
Monkeypox is rarely fatal. Health officials are now aware of four deaths from the illness in the U.S. this year. Worldwide as of Thursday, the CDC is aware of 32 deaths as a result of the current outbreak.
A U.S. public health emergency was declared Aug. 4, a move that could facilitate access to emergency funds, allow the Biden administration to collect more data about cases and vaccinations, accelerate vaccine distribution and make it easier for doctors to prescribe treatment. The state’s fully-Democratic Congressional delegation has urged Republican Gov. Charlie Baker to make a similar move in Massachusetts.
The DPH is giving out the vaccine at clinics, initially limited to Boston and Provincetown due to limited supply. The program has since expanded to include clinics in Cambridge, Framingham, Lawrence, New Bedford, Randolph, Somerville, Springfield and Worcester. Eligibility limits on who can get them remain in effect.
As of Thursday, Massachusetts had administered 30,958 doses of the vaccine, the DPH said.
We already have vaccines and treatments approved for monkeypox
What is monkeypox?
Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958, when outbreaks occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research — resulting in its name.
The first case in a human was reported in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which still has the majority of infections. Other African countries where it has been found: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone.
Human symptoms of monkeypox are similar to but milder than the symptoms of smallpox, the CDC says. It presents itself as a flu-like illness accompanied by lymph-node swelling and rash on the face and body.
Monkeypox starts off with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion. Monkeypox also causes lymph nodes to swell, something that smallpox does not. The incubation period is usually 7−14 days but can range from 5−21 days.
The CDC is urging healthcare providers in the U.S. to be alert for patients who have rashes consistent with monkeypox, regardless of whether they have traveled or have specific risks for monkeypox. See more information from the travel notice here.
Monkeypox is a rare virus first discovered in 1958.
How do you catch monkeypox?
The CDC issued new monkeypox guidance earlier this month as the number of suspected cases nationwide boomed, marking America’s largest-ever outbreak of monkeypox, which typically has been confined to other continents.
While the CDC says the risk to the general public remains low, people are urged to avoid close contact with those who are sick, including those with skin or genital lesions, as well as sick or dead animals. Anyone displaying symptoms, like unexplained skin rash or lesions, should reach out to their healthcare providers for guidance.
What you should do if you think you might have monkeypox
Anyone with a rash that looks like monkeypox should talk to their healthcare provider, even if they don’t think they had contact with someone who has monkeypox. According to the CDC, people who may be at higher risk might include but are not limited to those who:
- Had contact with someone who had a rash that looks like monkeypox or someone who was diagnosed with confirmed or probable monkeypox
- Had skin-to-skin contact with someone in a social network experiencing monkeypox activity, this includes men who have sex with men who meet partners through an online website, app or social event
- Traveled outside the U.S. to a country with confirmed cases of monkeypox or where monkeypox activity has been ongoing
- Had contact with a dead or live wild animal or exotic pet that exists only in Africa or used a product derived from such animals
We already have vaccines and treatments approved for monkeypox
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?
Human symptoms of monkeypox are similar to but milder than the symptoms of smallpox, the CDC says. It presents itself as a flu-like illness accompanied by lymph-node swelling and rash on the face and body.
Monkeypox starts off with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion. Monkeypox also causes lymph nodes to swell, something that smallpox does not. The incubation period is usually 7 to 14 days but can range from 5 to 21 days.
The CDC is urging healthcare providers in the U.S. to be alert for patients who have rashes consistent with monkeypox, regardless of whether they have traveled or have specific risks for monkeypox. See more information from the travel notice here.
Symptoms take 7-14 days to show, but can take up to 21 days to show
