5 monkeypox cases on Treasure Coast; Florida nears 1,000 cases, FDOH says (2024)

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Two additional monkeypox cases were reported in Martin County, bringing the total number of cases on the Treasure Coast to five, according to the Florida Department of Health.

There are four cases in Martin County and one in St. Lucie County, while none have been reported in Indian River County, according to DOH data updated Sunday.

The youngest reported Treasure Coast case is a child 4 years old or younger in Martin County. The other cases are in the 35-39 and 45-49 age ranges.

Jennifer J. Harris, director of communications and public information at the Department of Health in St. Lucie County, saidthe risk of monkeypox to the general population is low.

Monkeypox symptoms:Is your rash a symptom of chickenpox, shingles or monkeypox? How to tell as virus spreads in Florida

July 20 monkeypox report in Florida:226 probable or confirmed cases reported with bulk in Broward, Miami-Dade

​​​​​​​“We are conducting epidemiological investigations to notify possible exposures and offering post-exposure prophylaxis,” Harris said via email.“We are prioritizing vaccine administration based on the Department’s priorities.”

Statewide, monkeypox cases continue to climb, with a few Florida counties reporting sharp increases.

As of Aug. 8, the Florida Department of Health reported 938 confirmed or probable cases of monkeypox in 28 counties, according to its tracker on flhealthcharts.gov.A week ago, the state reported 442 casesin 22 counties — that's a jump of 496 probable or confirmed monkeypox cases here since Aug. 1.

It should be noted that the case numbers in Florida vary from what theCenters for Disease Control and Preventionreport. The CDC, for example, shows 633 confirmed cases for the Sunshine State. According to the CDC, here's a snapshot of U.S. and Florida confirmed cases in the past few weeks:

  • As of Aug. 8, the CDC listed 7,510 total confirmed monkeypox/orthopoxvirus cases in the U.S. and 633 in Florida.
  • On Aug. 1, the CDC had reported 5,189 confirmed cases in the U.S.and 373 cases in Florida.
  • On July 22, the CDC had reported 2,891 cases in the U.S.

A presumptive positive case was first announced in Florida on May 22.

The week of July 20the state department of health reported 226 cases here and the CDC reported 1,470 nationwide.

Top 5 counties in Florida for monkeypox cases

According to the Florida Department of Health's tracker, these are the Top 5 counties reporting confirmed or probablemonkeypox cases:

  • Broward
  • Miami-Dade
  • Orange
  • Palm Beach
  • Pinellas

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Monkeypox cases in Florida

Here's a list of total cases by county with notes in increases and first case. This info isfrom the Florida Department of Health's reportable disease frequency report, with data range from May 22 to Aug. 7:

Alachua, 1

Brevard, 4 (up 3 from Aug. 1, when monkeypox first was detected here)

Broward, 330 (up 119 from Aug. 1; up 131 from July 25)

*Charlotte, 1

*Clay, 1

Collier, 3 (unchanged since July 25)

Duval, 7 (up 3 from Aug. 1; cases were first detected here week of July 25)

Flagler, 1 (unchanged from Aug. 1, when monkeypox case was detected here)

July 29:Flagler County reports its first monkeypox case

Hillsborough, 37 (up 27 from Aug. 1)

Lake, 3 (up 1 from Aug. 1)

Lee, 6 (up 3 from Aug. 1)

Martin, 4 (up 2 from Aug. 1, when 2 possible or confirmed monkeypox cases were detected here)

Aug. 1:Martin County reports 2 cases of monkeypox

Miami-Dade, 367 (up 259 cases from Aug. 1; a week before that, cases increased to 35 from July 25)

Monroe, 13 (up 1 from Aug. 1)

Orange, 54 (up 28 from Aug. 1; a week before that, cases increased to 9 from July 25)

Osceola, 4 (up 1 from Aug. 1, when monkeypox was first detected here)

Palm Beach, 43 (up 16 from Aug. 1; the previous week, the county reported 17 possible or confirmed cases)

Pasco, 3 (up 2 from Aug. 1, when monkeypox was first detected here)

Pinellas, 36 (up 18 from Aug. 1; the previous week, the county reported 5 possible or confirmed cases)

Polk, 4 (up 1 from Aug. 1)

Santa Rosa, 1

Sarasota, 1

Seminole, 6 (up 3 from Aug. 1)

*St. Lucie, 1

Aug. 5:First monkeypox case reported in St. Lucie County, third in Treasure Coast region

Volusia, 3 (up 2 from Aug. 1)

July 29:Volusia County reports its first monkeypox case

*denotes first confirmed or probablecases for the county since the USA TODAY Network-Florida's July 25 report, using stats from the state department of health

Previous USA TODAY Network-Florida reports for monkeypox

  • Aug. 1 report, when the state was near 500 cases, according to FDOH
  • July 25 report, when the state reported 273 cases

Monkeypox symptoms, vaccines and other info

Below are some common questions associated with monkeypox and other things to know. The USA TODAY Network-Florida will produce a weekly report on the virus, the counties affected and case counts every Monday using stats from the Florida Department of Health and the CDC.

The Florida Department of Health reported more confirmed or probable cases of monkeypox in more than 20 counties. A week ago, the state reported 442 cases in 22 counties. The first presumptive case was reported here May 22.

What are monkeypox symptoms?

Monkeypox symptoms are milder than those of smallpox, according to the CDC.

It begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills andexhaustion. Within 1 to 3 days after fever, the patient develops a rash, often beginning on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body. Incubation period (time from infection to symptoms) is usually 7-14 days but can range from 5-21 days.

How is monkeypox transmissible?

Possible human-to-human transmission includes:

• coughing. If an infected person coughs, it can be spread through respiratory droplets via the eye, nose or mouth.

• animals. The virus can be transmitted by a bite, scratch or body fluids. Rodents are the primary source.

• broken skin. The virus can enter the body through broken skin, even if the break is not visible.

Is monkeypox a gay disease?

No. Although the latest majority of monkeypox can be transmitted through close or intimate contact, it's not required, and the virus can spread to anyone of any sexual orientation.At least two children in the U.S.in close contact with infected family members have beendiagnosed with it.

When should I get tested?

The CDC and the Florida Department of Health recommend testing ifyou see suspicious skin lesions or if you've had close personal contact with someone who may have a confirmed or probable case.

Is there a monkeypox vaccine?

Yes. The CDC states: "Because monkeypox and smallpox viruses are genetically similar, vaccines developed to protect against smallpox viruses may be used to prevent monkeypox infections. The U.S. government has two stockpiled vaccines — JYNNEOS and ACAM2000 — that can prevent monkeypox in people who are exposed to the virus. Vaccines may be recommended for people who have had or may have contact with someone who has monkeypox, or for healthcare and public health workers who may be exposed to the virus."

Closer look:Rising reports of monkeypox cases in US and around the world raise concern

Monkeypox hotline

If health care providerssuspect a possible case of monkeypox,immediatelycontact yourcounty health department via theFlorida Department of Health websiteor the 24/7 disease reporting hotline at 850-245-4401.

Contributing: USA TODAY

Please consider subscribing to a USA TODAY Network-Florida newspaper atoffers.usatodaynetwork.com/network-regional-florida.

5 monkeypox cases on Treasure Coast; Florida nears 1,000 cases, FDOH says (2024)

FAQs

How many confirmed monkeypox cases in Florida? ›

As of December 7th, 2022, there have been a total 2,829 documented cases of mpox in Florida.

How many cases of monkeypox are there now? ›

Since the start of the current global outbreak that started in May 2022, there have been 32,063 confirmed cases of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) and 58 deaths in the US. As of January 10, 2024, CDC is no longer updating the mpox outbreak US case count.

Which state has the highest monkeypox cases? ›

Which U.S. States Have Had the Most Mpox (Monkeypox) Cases per Capita in 2022?
RankStateCases per 100,000 People
1New York21.51
2Georgia18.65
3California14.23
4Florida13.2
47 more rows

How do you confirm a case of monkeypox? ›

Mpox is diagnosed by PCR test for the monkeypox virus ( MPXV ) on a viral swab taken from one or more vesicles or ulcers. Swabs should be sent in viral transport media.

How many kids have gotten monkeypox? ›

At least 31 children in the United States have tested positive for monkeypox, according to state officials across the country. So far, 11 U.S. states and jurisdictions have reported monkeypox cases among children.

How many cases of monkeypox are in Miami-Dade County? ›

The preliminary data shows Miami-Dade has recorded 367 confirmed and probable cases of monkeypox, a disease that is known to cause fever and painful pimple-like rashes. Broward has recorded 330 confirmed and probable cases.

What is the death rate of monkeypox? ›

The median patient age for confirmed cases was 15.5 years. The overall case-fatality ratio was 7.5% (12/160) for confirmed and suspected cases, 9.6% (8/83) for children <16 years of age.

How do you prevent monkeypox? ›

Isolate people who have mpox from healthy people. Wash your hands well with soap and water after any contact with an infected person or animal. If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid animals that may carry the virus.

Can you get monkeypox twice? ›

If you have already had monkeypox, you will not usually get it a second time. We do not yet know for sure whether this is also the case after vaccination. You may still develop a skin rash (including blisters) from direct skin contact with someone who has monkeypox, and those blisters are contagious.

Who is most affected by monkeypox? ›

Who is at a higher risk?
  • People with weak immunity.
  • Pregnant and breastfeeding women.
  • Children below eight years of age.
  • Anyone with prolonged exposure to an infected person or animal.

What are the symptoms of monkeypox? ›

Symptoms of mpox can include:
  • Fever.
  • Headache.
  • Muscle aches and backache.
  • Swollen lymph nodes.
  • Chills.
  • Exhaustion.
  • A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus.

What nine states are in the monkeypox outbreak? ›

As of May 31, nine states (California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, New York, Utah, Virginia, and Washington) have reported 17 patients with confirmed orthopoxvirus infections, which until proven otherwise, are considered to be Monkeypox virus during this outbreak response (Supplementary Figure 1, https ...

How long does monkey pox last? ›

Mpox causes signs and symptoms which usually begin within a week but can start 1–21 days after exposure. Symptoms typically last 2–4 weeks but may last longer in someone with a weakened immune system.

Is monkeypox itchy? ›

Mpox symptoms

The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing. The rash can initially look like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy.

How to cure monkeypox? ›

Overview. Currently there is no treatment approved specifically for mpox virus infections. For most patients with mpox who have intact immune systems and don't have a skin disease, supportive care and pain control will help them recover without medical treatment.

Where to get tested for monkeypox in Miami? ›

Monkeypox vaccines, testing in Miami-Dade

You can book an appointment online to get a free vaccination at the Health District Center at 1350 NW 14th St., Miami. Jessie Trice, a community health center, is not offering vaccines yet, but PCR testing is available.

What are mpox symptoms? ›

Symptoms of mpox can include:
  • Fever.
  • Headache.
  • Muscle aches and backache.
  • Swollen lymph nodes.
  • Chills.
  • Exhaustion.
  • A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus.

How to test for mpox? ›

A sample will be collected by swabbing your skin or mouth lesions and surrounding skin because lesion material is the best sample type and most likely to give an accurate test result. The healthcare provider may swab more than one of your lesions.

What happened to monkeypox? ›

In May 2023, the World Health Organization declared an end to the PHEIC, citing steady progress in controlling the spread of the disease. Relatively low levels of cases continued to occur, and as of 25 June 2024, there have been a total of 97,786 confirmed cases and 207 deaths in 116 countries.

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