America’s monkeypox count hits double digits as Colorado investigates the case of young man –

Colorado authorities are investigating a suspected case of monkeypox in a gay or bisexual “young man” who recently returned from Canada, and the province has become the eighth country to report a suspected case of the virus.

Local health chiefs announced late Thursday that the person had arrived at a clinic in the state’s largest city, Denver, with symptoms of the virus.

The patient, whose name has not been released, is currently in home isolation and contact is sought. The risk of spreading the virus to others is considered “low”.

Amid warnings that the virus could now spread within America’s borders, it brings the number of monkeypox in the United States to ten cases in eight states.

The vast majority of infections occur in gay and bisexual men, and most are associated with international travel.

Experts in Europe, where most cases were discovered, say the outbreak may have been triggered by unprotected sex at two mass demonstrations in Spain and Belgium.

More than 300 cases have been detected in more than two dozen countries worldwide.

Dr. Rachel Herlihy, Colorado’s principal epidemiologist, said, “We want to reassure Colorans that the risk to the public is low.

“But we also want them to be aware of the symptoms so they can deal with other cases as soon as possible.

‘We are grateful for the cooperation’ [health chiefs] in learning, administering and investigating this case”.

Patient swabs are now sent to a lab run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to be tested to confirm infection.

It was unclear whether the case concerned Massachusetts, who had recently returned from a trip to Canada.

The agency announced yesterday that all other reported cases have now been confirmed as monkeypox.

This includes two in Florida and Utah and one in California, Massachusetts, New York City, Virginia and Washington.

Canada has now reported more than 26 cases of monkeypox for every case in Quebec, but one in neighboring Ontario.

Monkeypox is a rare virus usually only found in West Africa, although it has recently spread to Europe and North America.

It is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact with infectious lesions and rashes that can occur all over the body, including the genital area.

Most cases are mild, but about one in 100 can lead to a fatal outcome.

Treatment focuses on vaccinating close contacts against smallpox, who, because they are close relatives, can also provide immunity against this virus.

Medications may also be given to reduce symptoms.

Experts have warned for years that an outbreak of this disease is inevitable, as immunity levels against smallpox drop dramatically.

America vaccinated everyone against the disease until the early 1970s, when vaccines successfully defeated the virus. The program was later abandoned in other countries.

Because of this, however, people under the age of 50 now have little immunity to monkeypox.

It comes when a British scientist warns that monkeypox may now be forever endemic to the UK and Europe as the virus, normally confined to Africa, continues to spread around the world.

Dr. Adam Kucharski, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the current outbreak is unlikely to turn into a pandemic like Covid, as it spreads through prolonged close contact.

Health leaders have warned that monkeypox, a virus native to parts of Africa and known for rare and unusual rashes, swellings and lesions, could spread to some pets and become endemic to Europe. Undated image of Monkeypox stadiums manifest file released by the UK Health Safety Agency

But the epidemiologist, who is also a member of the UK’s Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE), warned the “biggest risk” is that cases “will not be eliminated in some places”.

Any continued transmission raises the risk that the virus – closely related to smallpox – will be passed on to pets, meaning there will be persistent reservoirs of infection, such as in Africa, he said.

EU health chiefs have already recognized this threat and are considering culling all hamsters, gerbils and guinea pigs that fall ill with monkeypox.

In the UK, authorities are also expected to issue guidelines telling infected Brits to stay away from pets.

Monkeypox has been detected in all four UK countries as the number of local cases confirmed yesterday rose to 90. A disproportionate number among gay and bisexual men.

Twenty countries worldwide are currently affected by the current outbreak, with Finland being the latest country to confirm an infection today. Argentina, Bolivia and Sudan are investigating suspected cases.

Until now, jobs outside of West and Central Africa have been limited to a handful of people with travel connections to West and Central Africa.