The US has now identified about 17,000 monkeypox cases across the country, up about 25 percent from a week ago, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data revealed on Friday.

Iran PressAmerica: "As of August 25, over 46,700 cases have been detected globally in 98 countries. In the United States, there have been nearly 17,000 cases of monkeypox identified across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico," CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told reporters at a virtual press briefing.

On August 18, the CDC had identified more than 13,500 cases of monkeypox, but now that number is at 16,926, according to data posted on the CDC's website.

Monkeypox is a viral disease that is not easily transmitted and usually spreads through close physical contact, including sexual contact, with an infected individual. The virus can enter the human body through broken skin, respiratory tract, eyes, nose, mouth, and bodily fluids. It originates in animals like rodents and primates in remote parts of Central and West Africa.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday that the weekly monkeypox incidence fell by over 20% globally last week despite an increase in cases in North and South America.

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