New York City resident tests positive for monkeypox virus – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

ALBANY, NY (AP) — A New York City resident tested positive for the virus that causes monkeypox, state health officials said late Friday.

The unidentified patient is isolating and treating the case as positive while awaiting final confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control.

New York City public health officials said Thursday they were investigating two potential cases of monkeypox, a rare virus rarely found outside of Africa that can cause flu-like symptoms.

Tests ruled out the other case, the state health department said.

The apparent infection in New York comes as the World Health Organization has identified about 80 cases and about 50 other suspected cases worldwide. Health officials in Massachusetts confirmed the first case of monkeypox on May 18.

Officials from the state and city of New York will try to determine how the New York patient became infected. The city’s epidemiologists have begun reaching out to people who may have been in contact with the person.

The virus originates from primates and other wild animals and causes fever, body aches, chills and fatigue in most patients. People with severe cases can develop a rash and lesions on the face, hands, and other parts of the body.

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