Monkeypox Cases up to 12 in Texas: Should You Be Worried?

So far this year, 1,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported across 29 countries, with most cases in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Now it appears that cases are rising in Texas.

Get our free mobile app

The Texas Department of State Health Services and local health departments have confirmed multiple cases of monkeypox. There have been a total of 12 cases identified in Texas residents, and three of those patients said they were still in the state when they were exposed to monkeypox, according to KWTX.

The Texas Tribune reports that the first Texas case was identified in a resident of Dallas County who had traveled out of the country recently. Texas Department of State Health Services is investigating the case with Dallas County Health and Human Services and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What is Monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a viral disease that is transmitted from animals to humans that occurs mostly in central and western Africa. It comes from the same family of viruses as smallpox, although it is much less severe and experts say chances of widespread infection are low, according to the World Health Organization.

Monkeypox is not usually considered to be very contagious because it requires close physical contact with someone who is infected in order to spread.

Signs and Symptoms of Monkeypox

Monkeypox begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, and exhaustion. Within 1 to 3 days after the fever begins, a rash appears on the face before spreading to other parts of the body. Monkeypox usually lasts for 2−4 weeks, according to the CDC.