State health officials announced the first confirmed case on Friday monkeypox in Montana. The case was discovered in Flathead County.
State health officials conducted a test on August 5th. They say testing will be done again by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
State and local public health officials are working with adult patients to identify close contacts while they were infected. The patient does not require hospitalization and is isolated at home.
Montana is one of the last states to report monkeypox cases. The CDC has reported more than 7,000 cases nationwide, and President Biden’s administration has declared the virus a public health emergency.
Symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, and a rash that appears on the face, mouth, and other parts of the body. According to the CDC, monkeypox is spread primarily through direct contact with infected wounds and bodily fluids.
Monkeypox usually goes away without treatment, but can be treated with antiviral drugs, according to the Montana Department of Health. The state said it is supplying supplies as needed. Nationwide, access to vaccines to prevent monkeypox infection is restricted.
