Fourth Massachusetts monkeypox case confirmed, state says

The state Department of Public Health announced the state's fourth case of monkeypox, a virus related to, if less deadly than, smallpox:

DPH is working with local health officials, the patient, and the healthcare providers to identify individuals who may have been in contact with the patient while he was infectious. The case is currently isolating to prevent spread to others.

The state adds:

There have been no deaths in the US or globally related to this outbreak and patients generally recover fully in 2-4 weeks. Although many of the early cases were associated with international travel, recent cases are not. Gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men make up a large proportion of the cases identified to date. However, the risk is not limited to the LGBT community, and anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox is at risk.

While the virus does not spread easily between people, people can spread the infection once they develop symptoms. Transmission occurs through direct contact with body fluids and monkeypox sores, by touching items that have been contaminated with fluids or sores (clothing, bedding, etc.), or less commonly, through respiratory droplets following prolonged face-to-face contact. In many of the recent cases, the locations of the rash lesions suggest transmission during sexual contact.