The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting three new cases of monkeypox infection in Louisiana. All of the individuals are from LDH Region 1 which includes Orleans, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. Bernard.
This brings the total number of monkeypox cases in Louisiana to six.
Starting today, the LDH says it will provide updates on detected monkeypox cases in Louisiana residents on its website: ldh.la.gov/monkeypox. The Department will update its monkeypox dashboard daily at noon, except for weekends and state holidays.
There are likely more undiagnosed human cases of monkeypox in Louisiana than have been formally tested and identified to date.
"LDH is working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the patients’ healthcare providers to identify and notify individuals in Louisiana who may have been in contact with the patients while they were infectious. LDH has kept providers in Louisiana up to date, urged providers to be on the lookout for symptoms in patients, and shared specific monkeypox reporting and specimen submission guidance," says an LDH report.
Since May, 1,470 monkeypox cases have been identified in 44 states and Washington, D.C. Globally, more than 11,689 cases have been reported from 65 countries; the case count continues to rise daily. Information about international cases is available from the World Health Organization and information about U.S. cases is available from the CDC.
There have been no deaths in the U.S. to date.
