The first case of monkeypox has been reported in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, according to data from the CDC released on Thursday.
While the agency did not specify where in The Keystone State the virus was detected, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health announced on Thursday that a probable case was identified as a Philadelphia resident.
Health officials in Philadelphia say the data was based on preliminary testing at the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Bureau of Laboratories. They called the threat to Philadelphians ‘extremely low.’
Pennsylvania joins California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, New York, Utah, Virginia and Washington as the U.S. states with at least a single confirmed case.
According to the CDC, monkeypox is caused by a virus that is in the same genus of viruses that causes smallpox. The virus was first discovered in colonies of lab monkeys in 1958.
Symptoms of the virus include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion and a noticeable rash.
CDC officials advise anyone with a rash that looks like monkeypox to immediately talk to their healthcare provider.
For more information on monkeypox, see the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s newly updated fact sheet.
