New York patient’s illness consistent with monkeypox, but CDC can’t confirm

The Health Department stated that while a New Yorker was previously diagnosed with monkeypox, the CDC can’t definitely confirm the diagnosis.

The patient was initially diagnosed on May 19 and was being treated at Bellevue Hospital. CDC tests could not conclusively identify the monkeypox virus, with earlier tests detecting orthopoxvirus. The monkeypox virus is an orthopoxvirus, and the presentation of this case was consistent with the disease caused by monkeypox.

The case is still being treated as a probable case of monkeypox and the Health Department will continue contact tracing.

The initial investigation was launched following a report from a provider. The Health Department will continue to work with health care providers to investigate other reports, and it is possible additional cases of monkeypox may be identified.

Though monkeypox is rare and most New Yorkers are not at risk of infection, the disease can be spread through close prolonged contact with an infected person or animal. This includes contact with he skin lesions, body fluids, or sharing clothes or other materials that have been used by someone who is infectious, and also through respiratory droplets in prolonged face-to-face contact.

As a precaution, any New Yorkers who are experiencing a flu-like illness with swelling of lymph nodes and rash occurring on the face and body should contact their healthcare provider.

For information about monkeypox, see www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.html.