The Suffolk County Health Department has announced the first confirmed monkeypox case on Long Island.
The person, who was seen by a local health care provider, is following isolation protocols at home.
Suffolk health officials are communicating with the individual and will contact people who could have been exposed. The case is one of 96 current confirmed orthopoxvirus cases in New York state.
“While the current risk to the general public is low, we urge the public, as well as health care providers in Suffolk County, to be aware that this rare virus has been found in the region and to know the signs and symptoms and manner of transmission of the monkeypox virus,” said Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott.
Dr. Bruce Hirsch, Northwell Health infectious disease specialist, says over 90% people will have a “self-limited infection.” He says the patients will most likely have flu-like symptoms, swollen lymph nodes and some skin irritations on certain parts of the body.
Doctors say monkeypox is deadly in rare cases.
Nassau County currently has no confirmed cases of monkeypox.