Health officials confirm 2nd case of monkeypox in Georgia

ATLANTA — State health officials confirmed Tuesday that there is another case of monkeypox in Georgia.

Dr. Cherie Drenzek with the Department of Public Health said there are a total of 65 confirmed cases of the virus across the country right now with two here in Georgia.

Drenzek did not offer any details about the patient during Tuesday’s DPH briefing.

Last week, DPH announced that testing confirmed a metro Atlanta man had contracted the virus after traveling out of the country.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Gunman taken into custody after barricading himself inside Alpharetta HomeGoods store
• Headless body found behind a Burger King in Georgia
• 2 workers dead, 2 injured in construction accident in Floyd County

Symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, back pain, muscle aches and lethargy. It can also cause a rash and lesions on the face or genitals. The illness can be fatal in up to 11% of people who become infected.

There is no known treatment for the virus, but smallpox vaccines and antiviral treatments can be used to help control outbreaks.

Still, health officials say monkeypox is much less transmissible than the coronavirus and that the risk to the public is low. Many of the cases have been travel-associated and occurred in men.

The illness is endemic to Africa and has not previously triggered widespread outbreaks beyond the African continent.

RELATED NEWS:

First monkeypox case detected in Georgia The Georgia case brings the nationwide total to 31 monkeypox cases across 12 states and the District of Columbia. (NCD)

©2022 Cox Media Group