Florida monkeypox cases, confirmed or probable, nears 500, state department of health says (2024)

  • Possible human-to-human transmission includes: coughing, animals and broken skin
  • CDC and Florida Department of Health recommend testing if you see suspicious skin lesions
  • World Health Organization declared monkeypox a global emergency on July 23

Monkeypox cases continue to rise— in Florida and beyond.

As of Aug. 1, the Florida Department of Health reported 442 confirmed or probable cases of monkeypox in 22 counties. A week ago, the state reported 273 cases in 16 counties — that's a jump of 169 probable or confirmed monkeypox cases here since July 25.

It should be noted that the case numbers in Florida vary from what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report: As of Aug. 1, the CDC lists 5,189 total confirmed monkeypox/orthopoxvirus cases in the U.S. and 373 in Florida. On July 22, the CDC had reported 2,891 cases in the U.S.— that's a jump of almost 2,300 cases in 10 days.

A presumptive positive case was first announced in Florida on May 22. The state department of health reported442 confirmed or probable cases in 16 counties, according to its tracker onflhealthcharts.gov.

Monkeypox photos, skin lesions: What the rare disease looks like

The Top 5 counties reporting confirmed or probablemonkeypox cases:

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

July 25, 2022, report:Monkeypox cases, confirmed or probable, reach 273 in 2 months in 16 Florida counties

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.

Here's a list of 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 from July 31:

  • Alachua, 1
  • *Brevard, 1
  • Broward, 211 (up 131 from July 25)
  • Collier, 3 (up 1 from July 25)
  • Duval, 4 (up 2 from July 25)
  • *Flagler, 1
  • Hillsborough, 10 (up 5 from July 25)
  • Lake, 2 (up 1 from July 25)
  • Lee, 3 (up 1 from July 25)
  • *Martin, 2
  • Miami-Dade, 108 (up 35 from July 25)
  • Monroe, 12 (up 3 from July 25)
  • Orange, 26 (up 9 from July 25)
  • *Osceola, 3
  • Palm Beach, 27 (up 17 from July 25)
  • *Pasco, 1
  • Pinellas, 18 (up 5 from July 25)
  • Polk, 3
  • Santa Rosa, 1
  • Sarasota, 1
  • Seminole, 3 (up 1 from July 25)
  • *Volusia, 1

*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

Daytona Beach News-Journal:Volusia, Flagler counties report first monkeypox cases

What does "global health emergency" mean?Designation may help spur more investment into combatting monkeypox

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 but it's not required, and the virus can spread to anyone of any sexual orientation.Two children in the U.S.in close contact with infected family members have beendiagnosed with it.

Gay peopleshould not be stigmatizedjust because the virus started circulating among men who have sex with men, saidDr. Mahdee Sobhanie, aninfectious disease specialist at the Ohio State University Medical Center.

"Don't think of this as a gay disease. It's a disease that can occur through close contact," he said.

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.

Florida monkeypox cases, confirmed or probable, nears 500, state department of health says (2024)

FAQs

How many cases of monkeypox are reported in Florida? ›

In Hillsborough County, there have been 37 documented monkeypox cases. Pinellas County has recorded 36 cases of monkeypox. Four cases have been recorded in Polk County. As of December 7th, 2022, there have been a total 2,829 documented cases of mpox in Florida.

How many confirmed cases of monkeypox are there in the US? ›

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.

How do you confirm a case of monkeypox? ›

A person with laboratory confirmed MPXV infection by detection of unique sequences of viral DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)c and/or sequencing. For further guidance on testing please refer to Laboratory testing for the monkeypox virus: Interim guidance.

Is monkeypox a health emergency? ›

May 11, 2023- The Emergency Committee on monkeypox (mpox) met yesterday and advised that the multi-country outbreak is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), given the sustained decline in cases. The WHO Director-General accepted the Committee's advice.

Which US state has the most monkeypox cases? ›

The United States has the highest number of mpox cases in the world. California has the highest number of mpox cases in the United States.

What is the death rate of the monkeypox outbreak? ›

Some outbreaks have killed up to 10% of the people who get sick, although more recent outbreaks have had lower death rates. Clade I is endemic to Central Africa.

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.

How long does monkeypox 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.

How do you contract monkeypox? ›

Mpox can spread through close contact of any kind, including through kissing, touching, oral and penetrative vaginal or anal sex with someone who is infectious. People who have sex with multiple or new partners are most at risk.

Is monkey pox 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.

What is the first bump of monkeypox? ›

Macules appear like flat, round pink spots with no bump, lasting for one to two days. Papules go from a flat, pink spot to a raised bump that typically lasts one to two days. In this stage, the bumps go from raised to filled with a clear fluid for another one to two days.

Where does monkeypox rash start? ›

During past outbreaks, mpox started with a fever and often flu-like symptoms. A rash followed. The rash typically started on the face and spread to many areas of the body. People usually had between 10 and 150 pox-like bumps on their skin.

Who should get monkeypox? ›

You have had any of the following in the past 6 months: Sex at a commercial sex venue (like a sex club or bathhouse) Sex related to a large commercial event or in a geographic area (city or county for example) where mpox virus transmission is occurring.

Should I go to the ER for monkeypox? ›

In most cases, monkeypox is not a medical emergency, so patients do not need to go to the emergency department. Evaluation to determine if monkeypox testing is needed can be scheduled by contacting a primary care physician's office or via urgent care clinics, usually as same day appointments.

Can you be hospitalized for monkeypox? ›

The infection usually lasts between two and four weeks. Most people who get monkeypox don't require hospitalization and recover at home.

Is monkeypox in Orlando? ›

ORLANDO, FL – The following update is provided to keep the community informed on the Florida Department of Health in Orange County's (DOH-Orange) activities to contain the spread of the MPOX / Monkeypox virus and to provide Monkeypox vaccinations. Currently, there are 299 Monkeypox cases in Orange County.

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

Recently, the number of confirmed or probable cases of monkeypox in Miami-Dade has surpassed Broward's cases. According to the state's health department, as of Sunday, Miami-Dade had 367 confirmed or probable cases compared to Broward's 330 cases.

What diseases does Florida have? ›

Common Communicable Diseases A-Z
  • Adenovirus - (PDF-64KB)
  • Campylobacteriosis* - (PDF-66KB)
  • Chickenpox* - (PDF-65KB)
  • Cholera* - (PDF-64KB)
  • Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) - (PDF-65KB)
  • Cryptosporidiosis* - (PDF-81KB)
  • Dengue Fever* - (PDF-62KB)
  • E. coli* - (PDF-85KB)
Apr 29, 2024

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