First probable monkeypox cases reported in Missouri, Indiana
Two more states announced their first probable cases of
monkeypox Saturday.
The
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said the suspected case developed in a
Kansas City resident who had recently traveled out-of-state.
The
Indiana Department of Health also said it was investigating a probable
monkeypox case, but would not release the location of the
patient, who they said was in
isolation.
Contact tracing is underway in both states. Initial
testing occurred at state health department labs and confirmatory testing is pending at the
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention labs.
"The risk of monkeypox among the general public continues to be extremely low," Indiana Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said.
"Monkeypox is rare and does not easily spread through brief casual contact."