The US cases are the West African strain of monkeypox, which tends to be milder than another type more commonly seen from Central Africa. Within 48 hours, it was determined that the Massachusetts patient’s case closely matched the one reported from Portugal. With one confirmed case in Massachusetts and four suspected cases in New York City, Florida and Utah, US health officials are investigating the virus’s origin. See also: Biden says monkeypox shouldn’t spur Covid-19 level of concern The rare and potentially deadly cousin of the smallpox virus is traditionally confined to regions in Africa, but health officials are concerned about its wide spread. New and suspected cases of the illness have been cropping up in Europe and North America in recent days. Treatment guides for those who would benefit most are also being developed. While monkeypox doesn’t appear to be a major threat to the general public, health authorities say there’s a stockpile of vaccines and antivirals which are ready to use if needed. (Bloomberg) - US health officials sought to reassure the public that the risk of monkeypox is low and the country is prepared to handle its spread, though they acknowledged more cases are likely.