Georgia Train Evacuated After Passenger Says They Have Monkeypox

A train in East Point, Georgia, was evacuated this week after a passenger revealed they had monkeypox, and someone who overheard them passed on the information to authorities, according to reports.

Police of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Rail network halted and evacuated a train at East Point Station Monday, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.

Prior to the evacuation, a rider on the train overheard a fellow passenger saying they had monkeypox, which prompted the rider to report the conversation to MARTA police, according to the outlet.

Emergency medical services were brought in to assist the passenger who claimed they were sick.

There is no word if they actually tested positive for the virus.

Meanwhile, the train that was halted was taken to the rail yards to be cleaned and disinfected.

Riders were able to board another train and continue along the line.

Among the states, Georgia has the sixth highest number of monkeypox cases with 625 reported cases, according to publicly available data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Overall, the U.S. has reported 8,934 monkeypox cases, and the administration of President Joe Biden declared the ongoing outbreak a national public health emergency Thursday.

Most of the cases in Georgia, which are from the metro Atlanta area, are gay or bisexual men, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.

While a report published by the CDC Friday found that 94% of male monkeypox cases said they had recent male-to-male sexual or close intimate contact, the agency explained that the virus can spread through direct or close contact between anyone.

"Any patient, regardless of sexual or gender identity, with rash consistent with monkeypox should be considered for testing because close physical contact with an infectious person or exposure to contaminated materials such as clothing or bedding can result in transmission," researchers said.

Monkeypox can cause fever, headache and chills, among other things, but the disease's most prominent symptom is a rash that can appear all over the body, according to the CDC.

Vaccines against the virus exist, and the CDC recommends inoculation for people who have been exposed to monkeypox or those who may be more likely to get the disease.