NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — On Friday afternoon, the Louisiana Department of Health announced that several more monkeypox cases have been detected in the state. According to the LDH, three additional cases have been identified, bringing the total of monkeypox cases in the state to six.
All of Louisiana’s cases have been found in Region 1, which includes Orleans, Plaquemines, Jefferson, and St. Bernard Parishes. The exact locations of these cases have not been released.
Beginning on July 15, the Louisiana Department of Health will provide daily updates on Louisiana monkeypox cases on its website. The dashboard will be similar to that of the coronavirus page.
Healthcare officials also say that these six cases are the only ones confirmed, but that “it is likely” that more undiagnosed cases of monkeypox are in Louisiana than what is recorded by LDH.
The LDH says there have been 1,470 monkeypox cases reported in the United States since May 1. There have been no monkeypox-related deaths in the U.S. to date.
According to the CDC, early data suggest that gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men make up a high number of cases. However, anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox is at risk.
Symptoms of monkeypox can include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches and backache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Chills
- Exhaustion
- A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus
Sometimes people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience a rash. Some cases in the current U.S. outbreak have experienced only isolated rashes in the genital region or other body parts.
Healthcare professionals say if you experience symptoms of monkeypox isolate yourself at home. Find more information on monkeypox here.
