First Monkeypox Case Identified In A Milwaukee Resident

MILWAUKEE, WI — The first case of monkeypox in a Milwaukee resident was identified on Saturday, the Milwaukee Health Department announced Monday in a news release.

The patient is isolating and following all recommended guidance, the news release said. The first case of monkeypox in a Wisconsin resident was identified at the beginning of July in Dane County. The Milwaukee Health Department said Milwaukee's case is the second identified in the state.

According to Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson, more cases are anticipated to emerge in the coming weeks.

Monkeypox is a rare disease that is rarely fatal after infection, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. However, children under 8 years old, people who have weakened immune systems, people with a history of eczema, and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding may be more susceptible to serious disease or death, the CDC said.

“With the increasing number of cases nationwide, we are not surprised monkeypox has been identified in our city,” said Health Commissioner Johnson in the news release.

Any risk to the public remains low, the health department said. But you should be aware of the symptoms and seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms. In recent cases in the U.S., the virus has been characterized by unexplained rashes and skin lesions.

At times, those rashes can occur in similar areas of the body as syphilis or herpes, and the diseases may be hard to tell apart, the health department said.

Other early symptoms include fever, chills and swollen lymph nodes, the health department said. The disease can be spread to anyone through close, often skin-to-skin contact. It is primarily spread through direct contact with monkeypox rash, scabs or body fluids. The disease can also spread through sex, the health department said.

Touching objects, fabrics and surfaces that have also been touched by someone with monkeypox can also spread the disease.

More information about monkeypox is available on the CDC's website on the disease.