Second monkeypox case reported in Ohio

A man in the Columbus area has been diagnosed with monkeypox, according to Columbus Public Health.

Our news partners at WBNS reported that the case involves a 48-year-old man. Health officials said he’s currently isolated.

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This is the second reported case in Ohio. The first case was reported earlier this month.

Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts told WBNS that the agency was investigating the reported case. The agency did not believe there are any close contacts.

When announcing the first detected case about two weeks ago, Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said the risk for Ohioans to contract monkeypox is low because it “does not spread easily between people.” Roberts reiterated that Monday.

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“The threat to the general public is very low but we want people to understand that monkeypox is in the United States, has arrived in Ohio and now it has arrived in Columbus,” Roberts said.

While most people diagnosed with monkeypox travel outside of the country, WBNS reported that this patient did not appear to have traveled outside of the United States.

On Saturday, the World Health Organization said the monkeypox outbreak in more than 50 countries should be closely monitored, but does not warrant being declared a global health emergency.