NewsDesk @bactiman63

This past Saturday, the Houston Health Department announced a confirmed monkeypox infection in a Houston resident with recent international travel.

Image/CDC

The confirmation represents the first detection of monkeypox in Houston.

The resident developed symptoms after returning from travel and is experiencing a mild illness. The resident didn’t require hospitalization and is isolating at home.

In addition, Harris County Public Health (HCPH) confirmed its first case of monkeypox in the County Saturday from an out-of-state resident.

This person has since left the County and returned to their state of residence. HCPH case investigation team is working with the individual to identify others who may have been exposed.

As of June 18, 2022; the CDC has confirmed three cases in Texas and 114 in the nation.

Monkeypox typically begins as a flu-like illness such as fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, chills and exhaustion, and swollen lymph nodes. One to three days after the appearance of fever, a rash develops — often beginning on the face then spreading to other parts of the body.

Monkeypox is rare and doesn’t spread easily between people without close, personal, skin-to-skin contact.

It also can spread from person to person through prolonged face-to-face contact or close contact with the infectious rash, scabs or body fluids. Contact with items such as clothing or linens that previously touched the rash or body fluids is another way monkeypox spreads.

The illness lasts two to four weeks. It can spread from the time symptoms start until the rash fully heals and a fresh layer of skin has formed.