MADISON, WI (WSAU) — The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has reported the first confirmed case of Monkeypox.
The patient resides in Dane County and according to DHS they are isolated. Officials add that the risk to the public remains low.
The case was confirmed on June 30th. No further information about the patient was released, including if they contracted the disease locally or had recently traveled.
“The number of monkeypox cases continues to rise in the U.S., so it is not a surprise that monkeypox has now been detected in Wisconsin,” said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ryan Westergaard. “While it’s likely that additional cases will be found among Wisconsinites, we are relieved that this disease does not spread easily from person to person. We’d like for all clinicians to remain alert to patients with compatible rashes and encourage them to test for monkeypox. We want the public to know that the risk of widespread transmission remains low.”
Health officials add that Monkeypox does not spread easily from person to person. The most common way the disease spreads is through skin-to-skin contact or by sharing items such as bedding or eating utensils. Symptoms include a new, unexplained rash, fever, chills, and swollen lymph nodes. Recently identified cases have developed skin lesions in the genital, groin, and anal regions that might be confused with rashes caused by common diseases such as herpes and syphilis.
While Monkeypox can be deadly, most people will recover from the disease in two to four weeks.
