Maine health officials have confirmed the first case of monkeypox in the state.
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday the individual is a male from York County. Health officials are working to determine who may have been exposed and offering vaccinations to close contacts.
Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah said his agency has been preparing for a case for several weeks. He says the disease is rare and the risk to the general public remains low.
Maine now joins 44 other states in confirming at least one case of the disease.
Maine had ordered 311 doses of a monkeypox vaccine.
