Two Children Test Positive For Monkeypox in The U.S., Both Had "Contact" With Gay Men

Two children have tested positive for monkeypox in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed Friday.

One is a toddler from California; the other is in an infant who is not a U.S. resident and was 'transiting through' Washington D.C. Neither had contact with each other.

Health officials said both children were 'doing well', but warned children under the age of eight are at high risk of severe monkeypox.

It is thought both children likely caught the virus from 'household contacts'.

Dr Rochelle Walensky said the children both had contact with gay or bisexual men -- the community where most cases are being detected in the current outbreak.

It was not clear when they caught the virus, or what symptoms they suffered.

They are receiving the antiviral TPOXX, which can help stop an infection in its tracks by interfering with the virus's maturation.