MARQUETTE, MI— Monkeypox is not the next coronavirus.
So says the medical director for the Marquette County Health Department, Dr. Bob Lorinser. The first U.S. case was identified last week and additional cases are being investigated. Michigan currently has no cases.
Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 and the first human case was reported in 1970. Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, exhaustion and a rash that spreads across the body. Human monkeypox was first reported in the U.S. in 2003. Scientists have studied it for decades, and vaccines and treatments are available.
Officials believe the transmission of monkeypox from human-to-human occurs mainly through prolonged face-to-face contact, contact with bodily fluids or lesions, or contact with contaminated clothing or linens. Recent cases suggest it could be spread via sexual contact.
Clinicians should consult their local health department if they suspect monkeypox.