Health Care

Here are the states with monkeypox cases

Monkeypox has been found in 33 states and Washington, D.C., just weeks after it was first detected in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

The agency has stressed that the virus, which spreads through prolonged skin to skin contact, is not a high risk to the public. 

However, the CDC did raise its warning level for monkeypox to a Level 2 concern, meaning Americans should be cautious when they travel but do not have to cancel their plans. 

A person infected with monkeypox can form painful rashes and lesions. The virus lasts from two to four weeks, and a person is no longer contagious once the lesions heal. 

Most of the cases in the U.S. have been found in men who have sex with other men. One case has been discovered in a woman who had engaged in heterosexual sex.

The U.S. has not reported any deaths from the monkeypox cases, and officials are working to contain cases by identifying who was exposed to the virus and getting them a vaccine. 

There are currently more than 550 cases in the nation.

“The strain of the monkeypox virus affecting patients in this outbreak is the West African clade, and that is less severe than other known clades [such as] the Congo Basin clade, meaning that in historical outbreaks in Africa it has led to fewer deaths,” Jennifer McQuiston, deputy director for the CDC’s Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, said. 

Here are the states known to have monkeypox cases:

Arkansas

Arkansas reported its first monkeypox case on July 5, the state health department announced without providing further details.

Arizona 

The Maricopa County Department of Public Health and the Arizona Department of Health Services announced on June 7 the first case of monkeypox in the state. 

The individual is a man in his late 30s. He is currently isolated at home. 

The state did not disclose the person’s recent travel history, so it is unclear if he contracted the virus in the U.S. or abroad. 

California

California has discovered 111 monkeypox cases 

The state announced its first monkeypox case on May 27. 

The patient was from Sacramento County and recently traveled to Europe. The individual was not hospitalized and isolated at home. 

Los Angeles County recorded its first case on June 2, saying the person recently traveled and was in close contact with someone who likely had the virus. 

The individual was symptomatic but did not need to be hospitalized. 

Colorado 

Colorado has recorded seven monkeypox cases. 

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) announced the first monkeypox case in the state on May 26. 

The first case was a young adult male who traveled to Canada, and a second case was reported about a man who was a close contact of the first individual, according to the state health department, Rocky Mountain PBS reported

Connecticut

The state’s health department announced Connecticut’s first and only case of monkeypox on July 5.

Florida 

Florida has 64 recorded monkeypox cases in the state, with the first announced on May 22. 

The first case was from an individual in Broward County who recently traveled outside the U.S. 

Georgia

Georgia has discovered 13 monkeypox cases in the state.

The state announced its first monkeypox case on June 6 in a man from the Atlanta metropolitan area. 

The man has a history of international travel and has been isolated in his home. 

Hawaii

Hawaii has six monkeypox cases in the state. 

Hawaii announced its first monkeypox case on June 4 in a resident from the area. 

The patient recently traveled to an area that is known to have cases, according to the state’s health department. 

The person was in the hospital and in stable condition.

Illinois

Illinois has recorded 62 monkeypox cases.

The first case of monkeypox in Illinois was announced on June 2 in a man who recently traveled to Europe. 

The individual was a resident of Chicago who was isolated at home and in “good condition,” according to the state. 

A second case was announced a day later in another Chicago resident who was a close contact of the first man. 

Indiana

State health officials in Indiana reported their first case of monkeypox on June 18.

The state has since reported four additional cases, according to the CDC.

Iowa

The state’s health department reported Iowa’s first case on July 1.

State health officials said the patient was likely infected during an international trip and was isolating.

Kentucky

Kentucky reported its first case of monkeypox on June 24.

Health officials said the patient was a Jefferson County resident and they were working to conduct contact tracing.

The state has since reported one additional case.

Maryland

Maryland announced its first case of monkeypox on June 16, and the state now reports a total of nine cases. 

The first individual had mild symptoms and was isolated but did not need to go to the hospital. 

The travel history of the patient was not announced.

Massachusetts

The first case of monkeypox in the U.S. was found in Massachusetts and announced on May 18. 

The case was in an adult male who recently traveled to Canada. The state said the individual was in the hospital and in good condition when the infection was announced. 

Since then, Massachusetts has discovered 28 more cases of monkeypox within its borders. 

Michigan

Michigan reported its first monkeypox case on June 29 in an Oakland County resident.

The state has not yet reported any additional cases.

Minnesota

The CDC reports six total cases in Minnesota.

The state health department reported its first case on June 27 in the Twin Cities area.

Health officials said the patient likely contracted the virus while traveling abroad.

Missouri

Missouri has so far reported three monkeypox cases.

State health officials reported Missouri’s first case on June 18, saying the patient did not require hospitalization.

Nebraska

Nebraska reported its first case of monkeypox on June 27 and has not yet recorded another case.

The state’s health department said the patient was a man in his 30s who had recently returned from international travel.

Nevada

Nevada has so far reported two monkeypox cases.

The Southern Nevada Health District reported the state’s first case on June 20 in Clark County.

Ten days later, the health district reported a second case. A man in his 20s was diagnosed in another state and returned to Clark County for isolation, the agency said.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire reported its sole case of monkeypox on June 29.

The state’s health department declined to provide further details of the patient for privacy reasons beyond saying he is a resident of Rockingham County.

New Jersey

The Garden State has reported seven monkeypox cases.

The state’s first patient received a positive test on June 18 and began isolating.

New York 

The CDC says 96 monkeypox cases have been confirmed in New York. 

However, the New York City Health Department says 25 people have tested positive for orthopoxvirus, with all cases “likely monkeypox.”

Most of the individuals had mild illnesses and already recovered, according to the department.

The first case was confirmed on May 26 and the department has not given the travel history for the patients. 

It is likely all the cases are not from international travel and there has been some community spread. 

The state also said the cases are largely among men who have sex with men, although anyone that has close physical contact with others is at an elevated risk. 

North Carolina

The state has so far reported two monkeypox cases.

The first case was announced on June 23 but did not include further details of the patient for privacy reasons.

Ohio

Ohio reported its first case of monkeypox on June 13 and now reports a total of three cases. 

The first case was in an adult male but the state did not report on the person’s recent travel history. 

The man was in isolation at the time of the announcement. 

Oklahoma

Oklahoma has announced two monkeypox cases. 

The first case was on June 10 in a central Oklahoma resident who recently traveled internationally. 

The individual was in isolation at the time of the announcement. 

A second case was announced on June 17 in another central Oklahoma resident who had a recent international travel history. 

The state said the second case had no connection to the first one. 

Oregon

Oregon announced its first case of monkeypox on June 16 and has since announced two additional cases. 

The case was an adult male who recently traveled to an area that was known to have monkeypox cases. 

He was in isolation when the announcement was made. 

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania now reports 17 cases after the Philadelphia Department of Public Health announced the state’s first monkeypox case on June 2. 

The case was in a Philadelphia resident, but no further information was given about the patient. 

“The threat to Philadelphians from monkeypox is extremely low,” said Health Department Acute Communicable Disease Program Manager Dana Perella. “Monkeypox is much less contagious than COVID-19 and is containable particularly when prompt care is sought for symptoms.”

Rhode Island 

Rhode Island announced its first and only monkeypox case on June 9. 

The man is a resident of Providence County and in his mid-thirties.

He is believed to have caught the disease while in Massachusetts, according to the state. 

The individual was hospitalized but in good condition.

Texas

The Texas Department of State Health Services announced June 7 a case of Monkeypox in a Dallas County resident. 

The person has a recent international travel history and is isolated at home, according to the state. 

The state is tracking some of the patient’s close contacts who may have been exposed to the virus. Authorities are also contacting those who were on a plane with the individual from Mexico to Texas. 

The CDC says there have been 19 other monkeypox cases discovered since June 7. 

Utah

In Utah, the Salt Lake County Health Department issued an announcement on May 23 about two probable monkeypox cases. 

The cases were in two adult males that lived in the same household. The two traveled internationally earlier in May. 

The individuals had mild cases, according to the department, and were expected to fully recover. 

The state now reports a total of five cases, according to the CDC.

Virginia 

Virginia reports a total of 13 monkeypox cases, according to the CDC.

Virginia announced its first case of monkeypox on May 26 in a female resident. 

The woman recently traveled to an African country where the monkeypox virus is present, according to the state. 

She was isolated at home and did not require hospitalization. 

Washington

Washington has reported a total of seven cases.

The state health department reported the first case on May 27. 

The state said the individual was isolated at home and did not need hospitalization, but did not disclose recent travel history. 

The second case was announced by the county’s health department on June 16. 

The case is a man, currently in isolation, who recently traveled to a country with known monkeypox cases. 

Washington, D.C. 

Washington, D.C., has recorded 53 monkeypox cases.

The District of Columbia announced its first monkeypox case on June 6 in an individual who recently traveled to Europe. 

Authorities said close contacts of the individuals were being monitored.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin reported its only case of monkeypox so far in the outbreak on June 30.

The patient is a resident of Dane County, health officials said.

This story was updated at 4:36 p.m. on July 6.