The second case of monkeypox of the year was discovered in Maryland

November 23, 2021

Health officials have confirmed that a Maryland resident who recently returned from Nigeria has monkeypox, making it the second case of the rare but potentially fatal viral disease found in the United States this year.

So far, the person has shown only mild symptoms, the Maryland Department of Health said in a press release issued last week. The person is in isolation and is not hospitalized.

“Public health authorities have identified and continue to track those who may have been in contact with the diagnosed person,” Jinlene Chan, MD, deputy secretary of the public health department, said in a statement. “Our response, in close coordination with CDC staff, demonstrates the importance of maintaining a strong public health infrastructure.

People who have come in contact with the infected person, including other passengers of the airline, are being contacted, a statement from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Because air passengers wore face masks, the virus is unlikely to spread through respiratory droplets, the CDC said.

In July, monkeypox was discovered in Texas by a traveler from Nigeria. The man was hospitalized, the CDC reported in July. His current condition is unknown. People who came in contact with him were followed.

Monkeypox begins with flu-like symptoms and progresses to a widespread rash on the face and body, the CDC said. The disease is usually mild and causes milder smallpox, but can be fatal in about 10% of cases.

Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when outbreaks appeared in colonies of monkeys kept for research in Africa, according to the CDC. He reappeared in Nigeria in 2017 after more than 40 years with no reported cases.

Since 2017, 218 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in Nigeria, the CDC reported. Eight cases have been found in international travelers from Nigeria, including those in Texas and Maryland, the CDC reported.