Texas Toddler Presumed Positive for Monkeypox

A leader in the Houston area confirmed Tuesday that a Texas toddler under the age of two appears to have tested positive for Monkeypox. The disease’s source is still unknown, according to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who also noted that the infant hasn’t attended daycare or school. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must conduct tests before the supposed case can be officially confirmed.

During a press conference carried live by KHOU 11, Hidalgo stated, “The child is now projected to make a full recovery and is doing very, very well.” She said that the child’s rash is the only symptom present. Contact tracing is being done, but so far, it doesn’t appear that anyone has contracted the illness from the child, according to Hidalgo.

The child’s parents are assisting authorities as well. She noted that there are very few cases involving young children nationwide, with this case in Harris County being one of them. “I realise it’s a pretty serious situation, and parents are worried,” the speaker said. The CDC reports that Texas has seen over 1,000 cases of Monkeypox. With 2,620 cases, New York has the most nationwide. According to the CDC, Monkeypox can be contracted through intimate, frequently skin-to-skin contact.