SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento health officials are investigating a “likely” case of monkeypox virus related to travel in Europe and are awaiting confirmation Tuesday of tests by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health officials.
“Based on symptoms and preliminary testing, monkeypox confirmation is likely,” health officials said in a Tuesday morning announcement
Sacramento County Public Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye will address reporters at 9:30 a.m., to update the investigation. In a statement, Kasirye said the risk to the public is “extremely low.”
“This case appears to be related to recent travel to Europe,” Kasirye said in the statement. “Public Health is working with (California Department of Public Health) to conduct contract tracing, and risk to the general public is extremely low.”
Monkeypox is very rare and does not naturally occur in the United States, county health officials said. “U.S. cases are related to international travel or importing animals from areas where the disease is more common,” they said.
Monkeypox symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. Within one to three days after the appearance of fever, the patient develops a rash. The rash often begins on the face before spreading to other parts of the body. The span from infection to symptoms can range from five to 21 days and the illness can last two to four weeks.
———
