- 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
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