~ Risk to Public Is Low ~

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) has identified an adult from Merrimack County with clade I mpox, formerly called monkeypox.

The individual recently traveled to Eastern Africa, where there is an ongoing outbreak of clade I mpox, and is currently self-isolating and recovering at home. The individual’s illness poses no current risk to the public.

The individual’s illness is likely related to their recent travel, and there is no evidence that clade I mpox is spreading from person-to-person in New Hampshire or within the United States. This is the first clade I mpox diagnosis in New Hampshire and the third clade I mpox diagnosis in the United States.

People with mpox develop an infectious rash that changes over time as a person’s illness progresses. The rash can look like pimples or blisters that are painful or itchy. Over time, the rash can spread, and then slowly the skin lesions develop a scab or crust before going away over several weeks.

Other symptoms of mpox can include fever, chills, headache, exhaustion, muscle aches, sore throat, or swollen lymph nodes. A person with mpox can spread the virus starting when they first develop symptoms, and they remain contagious until their rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed.

DHHS is conducting a disease investigation to identify anyone who may have had close contact with the individual. There have been no public locations identified where exposure may have occurred. The Department will facilitate appropriate care for anyone identified during the investigation.

“The mpox virus is spread primarily through direct physical contact with someone who has mpox and has developed an infectious skin rash,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan. “Public Health is working to identify and notify people who had close contact with the individual, so we can connect them with preventive vaccination and help them to monitor for symptoms of mpox.”

Mpox is a disease caused by two different genetic types of the mpox virus, called clade I and clade II. Clade II mpox has continued to circulate at low levels in the United States since a widespread outbreak occurred in 2022. More recently, clade I mpox has been causing outbreaks in Central and Eastern Africa. Both types of the virus spread primarily through direct physical contact with a symptomatic person with mpox or through contact with used items contaminated with the mpox virus. The mpox virus is not spread through the air. 

If you are traveling to Central or Eastern Africa or if you believe you might have a risk factor for mpox, talk to your healthcare provider about whether the JYNNEOS vaccine is recommended for you.

If you have questions about mpox, please contact DPHS at 603-271-4496. For more information about mpox, visit the DHHS mpox webpage.