“We have seen mild cases of monkeypox, sometimes limited to certain parts of the body, which is different from what is usually seen in countries where the disease is endemic,” said Rochelle Walensky, director of Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC).
“There is concern that some cases will not be detected,” she said, urging the public and health professionals to be vigilant. Current cases do not always show the flu symptoms (fever…) that usually precede the onset of the rash characteristic of this disease.
1,300 cases worldwide
Moreover, while these eruptions usually appear all over the body, in many cases they are now limited to certain areas. “It’s important to know that cases of smallpox can look like some sexually transmitted infections, such as herpes,” and could therefore be misdiagnosed, “Rochelle Walensky said.
The United States has 45 cases, twice as many as last week. No deaths were reported. As of June 9, about 1,300 cases had been reported worldwide.
Transmission requires close and prolonged contact between two people. In particular, the United States is relying on vaccination of contact cases to stem the epidemic.