The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday the state’s first case of monkeypox.

A private laboratory conducted the testing and identified the disease in a man from York County, Maine CDC said in a statement. Officials said they would withhold further identifying information about the man.

Maine joins 44 other states that have reported cases of the disease, which has broken out both nationally and worldwide beginning in May 2022. Nationally, there have been 2,593 identified cases of monkeypox across the United States as of July 21 and a total of 15,848 cases across 72 countries, globally, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“While this is the first case of monkeypox identified in Maine, Maine CDC has been preparing for a case for several weeks given the international outbreak,”said Maine CDC Director Nirav D. Shah. “This disease is rare and the risk to the general public remains low. Maine CDC is working with the individual to identify close contacts and provide them access to vaccination.”

Maine CDC officials have enough doses of a vaccine against the disease for 311 people, and will distribute them based on who may have been in contact with  the disease. 

Monkeypox is transmitted by close interaction with a symptomatic person, such as physical or sexual contact. It can start with flulike symptoms, then causes rash or sores. While painful, the disease rarely causes severe illness and is rarely fatal. Maine CDC said anyone who fears they might have been exposed or has unexplained rash or lesions should contact a health care provider immediately.

Maine CDC advised the public to avoid skin-to-skin contact with someone who has a rash that looks like monkeypox, and not to share utensils or cups with someone who has the disease. Maine CDC also cautioned people to avoid handling bedding, towels or clothing from a person with monkeypox.