Dallas City Wire

Federal and Texas state officials have confirmed that a Dallas resident who traveled to Nigeria is infected with the monkeypox virus. 

According to Fox 4 News, the infected person flew back into Dallas Love Field on July 9, with a lay over in Atlanta, and the CDC has been working to find and contact anyone who may have come into contact with the individual. 

"We are in close contact with @DCHHS, the city's contracted public health authority, regarding the case of travel-related monkeypox in Dallas. We have confidence in the federal, state and local medical professionals who are working to ensure that this virus is contained," Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson wrote in a tweet.

Health officials said the risk of the infection spreading is low as many people continue to wear their masks to protect from COVID-19, especially in airports as is still required, Fox 4 News reported. Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) has reported that the patient has been hospitalized.

"We have determined that there is very little risk to the general public. This is another demonstration of the importance of maintaining a strong public health infrastructure, as we are only a plane ride away from any global infectious disease," DCHHS Director Dr. Philip Huang said in a release, as reported by Fox 4 News. 

While it is still unknown about what the main disease carrier of the disease is, and "although African rodents are suspected to play a part in transmission," according to the CDC, the DCHHS believes this to be the first case of monkeypox in Texas. 

"We have confidence in the federal, state and local medical professionals who are working to ensure that this virus is contained and that the patient is treated with the utmost care. The City of Dallas stands ready to assist their efforts in any way necessary," Johnson said in a statement, as reported by Fox 4 News. 

The first case of monkeypox in humans was recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970, and in 2003, the U.S. had 47 cases, but no other cases since then in the U.S. have been reported, according to Fox 4 News. 

Health officials said in a release that it is unlikely that monkeypox is spread through respiratory droplets to others, KWTX reported. 

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins told KWTX there is "not a reason for alarm and we do not expect any threat to the general public."