Indiana now has it’s second confirmed case of monkeypox.

The case was identified on June 18th, and confirmed through testing on June 19th, says City of Gary Health Commissioner Dr. Roland Walker. That’s the same day that Indiana’s other case of monkeypox was confirmed. None of this comes as a surprise to Gary Mayor Jerome Prince.

“Considering our proximity to Chicago, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that this virus is spread to the city of Gary,” said Mayor Prince in a Tuesday press conference.

Dr. Walker says the state of Illinois has nearly a dozen confirmed cases of monkeypox, and about half of those cases are in the Chicagoland area. He says if you consider Gary in that area, then this was no surprise to the doctor either.

Despite this confirmed case, Mayor Prince says there’s no reason to panic. He says monkeypox isn’t as easily spread as COVID-19, and that it isn’t like chickenpox. However, monkeypox does spread in somewhat similar fashion.

“But like nearly all viruses, monkeypox is spread from person to person,” said Prince, “and in very rare cases, from animals to people. You can catch the virus through close, direct contact who already has it and many times, through prolonged face to face contact like kissing or more physical acts.”

Symptoms a pimply rash, fever, headaches, chills, and body aches within 3 weeks of exposure. Doctors say you’re considered infectious until those pimply scabs fall off.