Case of monkeypox detected in 48-year-old Columbus-area man

COLUMBUS — A case of monkeypox has been found in a person living in the Columbus area.

Columbus Public Health is investigating a case of the disease in a 48-yearold man who is now in isolation, according to a news release. The infection marks the second case of monkeypox found in Ohio during the current outbreak.

Columbus Public Health serves both the cities of Columbus and Worthington. The risk of monkeypox to the general public is low, as the disease remains uncommon, according to Columbus Public Health.

Monkeypox is caused by a virus that spreads through close, intimate contact or during sex. It also can spread through contact with sheets, towels and other objects and through kissing, according to the city health department.

Monkeypox can spread from the time symptoms start until a rash caused by the virus has fully healed. The illness typically lasts two to four weeks, Columbus Public Health said.

People who do not have monkeypox symptoms cannot spread the virus to others.

Monkeypox starts with flulike symptoms, a fever followed by a rash or sores. People who may have monkeypox or have been exposed to the disease are asked to contact a health care provider or public health department immediately.

At least 200 Americans across 26 states have been diagnosed with monkeypox, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Cases have also been reported in Indiana, Kentucky and Pennsylvania, among other states. California has reported 51 infections so far, more than any other state, the CDC said.

In the current outbreak, it’s unclear how people were exposed to monkeypox. But, early data suggest that gay and bisexual men make up a high number of cases, according to the CDC.

This isn’t the first time monkeypox has surfaced in the United States, though it’s perhaps the largest outbreak so far. In 2003, 47 cases were reported across six states, including in Ohio, according to the CDC.

There are two vaccines approved for preventing both smallpox and monkeypox in the U.S. In some cases, vaccines are being used to prevent monkeypox in people who may have been exposed to the virus, according to the CDC.