The State Health Department says they believe they have the state’s first case of the monkeypox virus in the state. And, the person apparently got the virus when he traveled to Massachusetts. Rhode Island officials have not released the name of the person but do say that he is a man in his 30’s. The patient is in good condition.
"While monkeypox is certainly a concern, the risk to Rhode Islanders remains low – even with this finding. Monkeypox is a known – and remains an exceedingly uncommon – disease in the United States. Fortunately, there is a vaccine for monkeypox that can be given before or after exposure to help prevent infection," said Interim Health Director James McDonald, MD, MPH. "RIDOH continues to engage in active case finding and we have been communicating the latest information with healthcare providers so that they have the information they need to help us 'identify, isolate, and inform'."
The Health Department says that the risk to state residents is still quite low.
(Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)