MDH: 87 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Minnesota

By KSTP

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Minnesota health officials say the number of monkeypox cases in the state continues to rise.

As of Thursday, 87 total cases of the disease had been confirmed in Minnesota, according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).

Health officials are urging Minnesotans to limit close, skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact, with people who have new or unexpected sores and rashes, as well as those who’ve recently traveled to areas where the virus is spreading.

Other symptoms can include:

  • Fever or chills
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Body aches (including muscle and back)

Before May, most human cases of monkeypox outside of Africa were linked to imported animals or international travel. However, since then, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 13,517 confirmed cases across the U.S.

MDH says the state has enough vaccine doses to only vaccinate a few thousand Minnesotans and officials are prioritizing how those doses are used. The department offered more information during an afternoon briefing Thursday. Click the video box above to listen to that.

Pexels / NIAID / CC BY 2.0 / MGN

Find more information on monkeypox here.