2 more cases of monkeypox reported in Dallas County

Two more cases of monkeypox have been reported in Dallas County, health officials said Wednesday.

The cases were in residents who recently traveled to Spain and Mexico, the county’s health department said.

Health officials are in contact with the sick individuals and monitoring them for symptoms. The county is also working with the state health department and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to identify people who have had contact with the infected individuals, including airline passengers.

There is little risk to the public, said Dr. Philip Huang, the county’s health director.

The county’s first case of monkeypox this year was reported in early June in a resident who had traveled to another country.

Monkeypox is a virus that is transmitted from animals to humans that causes smallpox-like symptoms. It spreads between animals and people through contact with bodily fluids.

People infected with monkeypox often experience fever, headaches, muscle aches, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes one to two weeks after infection. After patients develop a fever, a rash that causes lesions develops all over the body.

The CDC said that while early data suggests that men who have intercourse with other men make up a high number of cases, anyone is susceptible to contracting the disease.

More than 150 cases of monkeypox have been reported in the United States this year, according to the CDC.