The first American monkeypox patient to go public with his battle against the tropical virus has criticized health officials for a "sloppy" job of testing for the virus, which has left many cases undiagnosed.

Matt Ford, a self-employed actor who splits his time between Los Angeles and New York, has spoken out to warn people that the disease 'defames him' and they should take it 'seriously'.

He criticized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for their lax testing efforts, saying it took officials three days to diagnose his illness by which time he 'already knew' what they were going to say. .

Revealing his diagnosis to Buzzfeed, Ford said he caught the virus after having 'skin-to-skin contact' with another patient.

The actor and writer, who describes himself as a 'proud openly gay man', revealed that he first noticed spots in and around his 'underwear area' which told him he had contracted the virus.

@jmatthiasford

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Over the next few days they spread to the rest of his body, including his face, arms, hands and stomach.

In total, he counted 25 spots and said after they appeared they started to 'fill with pus' and itch.

Some – particularly in the 'sensitive area' – became so painful that they left her unable to sleep at night without painkillers.

"I think I counted 25 in total and there are some in more sensitive areas that tend to be the most painful.

They're so painful that I've had to go to the doctor to get painkillers just so I can sleep, like really painful."

Ford also began suffering flu-like symptoms in the early stages, ranging from fever, chills, night sweats and a cough.

He is now self-isolating at home with most of the symptoms having largely subsided, but will remain there until the spots have healed.