New York City investigating a possible monkeypox case

New York City authorities are looking into a possible case of monkeypox, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC is tracking the recent clusters of cases in various countries.

Health authorities in New York City are concerned about the possibility of monkeypox, and the patient is being cared for at Bellevue Hospital while waiting for the preliminary test results. If the results turn out positive, the results will be sent to the CDC for confirmatory testing, authorities said.

The news comes after Massachusetts reported a case of monkeypox Wednesday in an adult male who recently went on a trip to Canada, marking the first U.S. case of the year. The U.K. reported more monkeypox cases this week to the ones reported earlier in the month, while they said they were investigating suspected cases. France is suspected of having a case in the Paris region Thursday.

Monkeypox is a rare but potentially serious viral illness that can cause a flu-like illness, swelling of the lymph nodes and rashes that start on the face and body. The CDC said on Wednesday that it is working with the Massachusetts Department of Health on the investigations and tracking the clusters that are reported in countries that don't normally report monkeypox. While monkeypox cases outside of the areas where it is endemic have usually been to international travel or imported animals, some of the reported cases did not have a history of travel. There is a possibility that transmission through mucus can be traced back to sexual relations, according to authorities. Many of these global monkeypox cases are within sexual networks, according to Inger Damon, MD, Ph. A D. poxvirus expert said in the news release.

People with monkeypox can be transmitted via respiratory droplets in close settings, as well as by contact with body fluids, monkeypox sores, or shared items such as clothing and bedding that have been contaminated with fluids or sores of a person with monkeypox, according to the CDC.

The agency is warning people who have symptoms of monkeypox to be on alert for any possible unusual rashes, particularly among men who have reported sex with other men, as some of the cases have been reported in these groups.

It is also urging health care providers to consider monkeypox, regardless of whether or not the patient has had travel to a central or west African country, and not limit their considerations to men who have sex with other men.

The CDC said that people who have close personal contact with people with monkeypox could potentially be at risk for the disease.

Damon said that ealth care providers should be alert to any rash that has features typical of monkeypox. We're asking the public to contact their health care provider if they have a new rash and are concerned about monkeypox.