SALT LAKE CITY — The Centers for Disease Control reported Utah now has five total monkeypox cases. That was two more cases than previously confirmed in the state.

Meanwhile, the White House announced Wednesday that it was sending a limited amount of the monkeypox vaccine to Utah.

On June 24 the Salt Lake County Department of Health confirmed the third case of monkeypox in the county. The department said the person was infected on an international trip. In May two other county residents also contracted the illness while traveling internationally.

One of Wednesday’s new cases was reported in Salt Lake County and the other in Utah County. Authorities have not released any other information about the two new cases.

The Deseret News confirmed that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are sending several hundred doses of the smallpox vaccine to Utah. At first, Utah expected 20 doses but following a Wednesday meeting, the number increased to 500.

More could be shipped here later.

The monkeypox virus is spread through intimate contact. Symptoms include a rash and fever. Shortly after the fever a rash and sores can appear. The sores often begin as small, red bumps, which become fluid-filled pustules that eventually scab over and fall off.

The current outbreak has not led to any deaths in the U.S.

The White House said, “The virus, however, is spreading in the United States and globally, and requires a comprehensive response from federal, state, local, and international governments and communities.”

On Wednesday the administration announced a strategy to provide vaccines across the country for high-risk people. “This phase of the strategy aims to rapidly deploy vaccines in the most affected communities and mitigate the spread of the disease,” a news release said.

The Biden administration said it received requests for vaccines from 32 states including Utah. The U.S. planned to send 296,000 doses over the next few weeks with 56,000 doses to be shipped immediately. Another 1.6 million doses will eventually become available.

The government is also ramping up the availability of FDA-approved tests at 78 locations in 48 states.

As a part of the monkeypox response, the administration will distribute the Jynneos vaccine which requires two doses. The FDA approved the drug to protect against smallpox and monkeypox.