Missouri’s first probable case of monkeypox confirmed in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Missouri well being leaders have confirmed the state’s first possible case of monkeypox in Kansas Metropolis.

Well being officers didn’t establish the affected person by identify, age or gender, however say the particular person is a Kansas Metropolis resident with current out-of-state journey historical past.

Preliminary testing was accomplished June 18, 2022, on the Missouri State Public Well being Laboratory, and confirmatory testing for monkeypox is pending on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC). Primarily based on preliminary epidemiologic traits and the optimistic orthopoxvirus consequence on the state laboratory, well being officers take into account this a possible monkeypox an infection.

“This week, certainly one of our wonderful nurses suspected certainly one of our sufferers could have monkeypox virus,” mentioned Dr. Marvia Jones, Director of the Kansas Metropolis Well being Division. “We’re contemplating this a possible case of monkeypox virus till we obtain remaining affirmation from the CDC labs. We admire the work our illness investigation and nursing employees have completed to teach themselves on this uncommon virus and be on alert for it.”

Kansas Metropolis illness investigators are working to find out if the affected person could have been involved with any people whereas infectious. Well being officers will notify anybody deemed liable to publicity.

Monkeypox is a uncommon, however probably critical viral sickness that sometimes begins with flu-like signs and swelling of the lymph nodes, and progresses to a rash on the face and physique. Most infections final 2 to 4 weeks. The primary instances have been recognized earlier in 2022.