MADISON, WI (WSAU) — The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has confirmed the second case of Monkeypox in the state, this time in a resident in Milwaukee County.
DHS says despite the news there remains no serious risk to the general public from the disease, as Monkeypox does not spread easily from person to person. According to DHS data, the virus transmits through respiratory droplets, sustained skin-to-skin contact, and contact with items that have been contaminated with the fluids or sores of a person with monkeypox. While anyone can develop a monkeypox infection if they have close contact with someone who is sick, the CDC reports that most cases in the U.S have occurred among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.
Most people with monkeypox recover in two to four weeks without needing treatment. However, vaccinations and antiviral medications can be used to prevent and treat monkeypox. People who had known exposure to someone with monkeypox should talk with a doctor or nurse to learn if they are eligible to receive a vaccine. This includes people who were specifically identified as someone who had close or intimate in-person contact with someone with the characteristic monkeypox rash, or someone with a probable or confirmed monkeypox diagnosis.
Wisconsin recorded its first case of Monekyepox on July 1st. That person resides in Dane County, meaning both of the state’s most populous counties have now reported cases of the disease.
No further information on the people who’ve tested positive has been released, including whether they transmitted the virus locally or had recently traveled.
