The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention has identified a case of monkeypox in a resident under age 18, the agency announced Friday.
It is the first pediatric case of the disease to be confirmed in Maine. At least two other states, California and Florida, have reported cases of monkeypox in people under age 18.
Maine CDC has reported three confirmed cases of monkeypox, including the pediatric case.
No additional information about the pediatric case will be released, the agency said, citing patient confidentiality. The CDC is working to identify any others who may have been exposed and make vaccination available to close contacts, it said.
Maine has received the monkeypox vaccine Jynneos from the federal government and is making the vaccine available to close contacts of identified cases, as well as those at risk of transmitting monkeypox or becoming severely ill. Under a recent emergency use authorization from the U.S. FDA, individuals under 18 may also receive Jynneos. Maine CDC’s website has a current list of vaccine locations and criteria for vaccination.
People who think they may have been exposed, or have a new or unexplained rash, are advised to contact a health care provider for information about vaccination and test for monkeypox, and provide treatment if appropriate.
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, which is part of the same family of viruses that causes smallpox. Transmission of monkeypox requires close interaction with a symptomatic person. This includes close, physical, skin-to-skin contact. Monkeypox can cause a rash or sores (pox) and is sometimes preceded by a flu-like illness. In rare cases, it leads to severe illness and hospitalization. Monkeypox is rarely fatal.
The current global outbreak of monkeypox began in May. As of Thursday, there have been 10,768 identified cases of monkeypox across the United States. The U.S. CDC is not reporting the number of pediatric cases nationally at this time.
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