1st Case Of Monkeypox Confirmed In NC: Health Department

NORTH CAROLINA — Health officials announced Thursday North Carolina's first confirmed case of monkeypox.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said the positive test comes from a North Carolina resident, but did not release any information about where that person lives or recently traveled.

Monkeypox is a rare virus that involves flu-like symptoms, swelling of the lymph nodes and a rash that includes bumps filled with fluid. Monkeypox is spread through skin-to-skin contact.

The health department is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, local health departments and the patient’s health care providers to identify and notify individuals who may have been in contact with the patient while they were infectious.

Since May, 3,308 monkeypox cases have been identified outside of endemic regions worldwide, with 156 cases identified in the United States. There have been no deaths related to this outbreak, according to health officials.

"The number of monkeypox cases has been growing in the U.S. and globally," Dr. Zack Moore, the state epidemiologist and epidemiology section chief, said in a statement. "Though this is the first confirmed case in North Carolina, we know there are likely other cases in the state. We are encouraging doctors to consider this in people who have a rash or skin lesion that looks like monkeypox."