Harris County

First Presumptive Positive Pediatric Case of Monkeypox Identified in Texas

NBC 5 News

According to Harris County leaders, a child under two years old is the first presumptive positive pediatric case of monkeypox in Texas.

In a news conference today, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said this is a reminder that anyone can get monkeypox, but she also stressed this is a rare case.

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“This would be, as best we know, the seventh case in the country in a child, the only case of monkeypox of a child in the entire state of Texas,” said Judge Hidalgo.

The child hasn't been in school or daycare, and currently, their only symptom is a rash. Though it is unclear how the two-year-old contracted monkeypox, the county is working with the child's family to begin contact tracing.

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If confirmed by the Center of Disease Control, it would be the seventh pediatric case in the country since the start of the outbreak.

For more information, visit KPRC.

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