Posted August 5, 2022 at 5:10 PM MDT
State health officials announced the first confirmed case of monkeypox in Montana on Friday. The case was found in Flathead County.
State health officials conducted the test on August 5. They say the test will be run again by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
State and local public health officials are working with the adult patient to identify anyone they were in close contact with while they were contagious. The patient does not need hospitalization and is in home isolation.
Montana was one of the last states to report a case of monkeypox. The CDC has reported more than 7,000 cases nationwide, and President Biden’s administration has declared a public health emergency over the virus.
Symptoms of monkeypox can include fever, headache, and a rash that appears on the face, mouth, and other parts of the body. According to the CDC, monkeypox is primarily spread through direct contact with infected wounds and bodily fluids.
According to the Montana State Health Department, monkeypox usually resolves on its own without treatment, but can be treated with antiviral medications. The state says it is providing supplies if needed. Across the country, access to vaccines to prevent monkeypox infections is limited.
