This story has been updated.
The public health agency serving San Antonio and Bexar County on Thursday confirmed two cases on Monkeypox, a virus related to smallpox that causes blisters on the skin and can be transferred by skin-to-skin contact.
On Friday, San Antonio Metropolitan Health District confirmed a third case.
The two cases identified Thursday involved “skin lesions in the genital, groin and anal regions that might be confused with rashes caused by common diseases such as herpes and syphilis,” according to the press release. Other symptoms can include fever, chills and swollen lymph nodes.
All infected individuals are currently isolating, according to Metro Health, and people they’ve been in close contact with have been notified, according to the press release.
“We encourage residents to be aware of the symptoms, follow prevention recommendations, and consult with a healthcare provider when needed,” Metro Health Director Claude A. Jacob said in an emailed statement Thursday.
“Because the disease does not easily spread from person-to-person without direct contact, the chance of exposure to the public is minimal,” Jacob said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking the Monkeypox outbreak, which has now been reported in several countries, and almost every state in the U.S. The CDC is urging healthcare providers to be alert for patients who have rash illnesses consistent with Monkeypox, regardless of whether they have traveled or have specific risk factors.
The Metro Health recommends avoiding close skin-to-skin contact in large crowds, like nightclubs and festivals. Confirmed cases should “isolate at home until the rash has fully resolved, the scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed.”
Supplies of the vaccine against monkeypox are limited at this time. Currently in Bexar County, vaccination is being offered only to people identified as direct contacts during public health case investigations.
As of Friday, Texas has 43 reported cases of Monkeypox.
