VIRGINIA, USA — The Virginia Dept. of Health announced the state has reached 40 presumed monkeypox cases as of Thursday.
The latest case marks the first in Central Virginia. According to VDH, the patient is a man who recently traveled out of state. He is now isolating.
The VDH said multiple countries are experiencing a monkeypox outbreak. So far, three deaths have been reported globally, none of which were in the U.S.
Monkeypox can be a serious viral illness, characterized by a specific type of rash. Rashes can begin on the genitals, perianal region, or oral cavity, which might be the first or only sign of illness. Some patients also have fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion and/or swelling of the lymph nodes before developing a rash.
These symptoms generally appear six to 14 days after exposure and, for most people, clear up within two to four weeks, VDH said. Treatment mainly involves supportive care and relief of symptoms.