Monkeypox has now spread to at least 75 countries, with more than 5,000 cases in the United States and 442 cases in Florida as of July 31, according to the Florida Department of Health.
That’s an increase of 169 probable or confirmed cases of monkeypox in one week, mostly from Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Orange and Pinellas counties, and a sharp increase from the first possible case here on May 22.
On July 22, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox, along with COVID-19 and polio, a “public health emergency of international concern.”
What is monkey pox? Should you be concerned about this? How can you tell you have? We have answers.
Monkey pox cases in Florida:
What is monkey pox?
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It is similar to smallpox (and from the same family of viruses), but milder and rarely fatal. Monkey pox is not related to chicken pox.
Monkeypox is most common in the tropical rainforests of central and western Africa and is sometimes found in travelers in other areas.
Is monkeypox fatal? Is there a cure?
Currently, there is no proven, safe treatment for monkeypox, but an FDA-approved vaccine and antiviral medication for the treatment of smallpox may be considered for prompt treatment of monkeypox.
According to the World Health Organization, the death rate in recent times has been 3-6%. Severe cases often involve children under 8 years of age, people with eczema, the very elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.
Monkey pox, however, can be very serious. can be affected by severe pain, both persistent, and, depending on the location, when using the toilet or eating.
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Complications of monkeypox include secondary infections, bronchopneumonia, sepsis, encephalitis, and corneal infection with loss of vision.
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?
Fever, headache, muscle and back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills, fatigue, sore throat, nasal congestion, cough, and a painful, itchy rash that usually starts on the face and then spreads to other parts of the body. or near the genitals or anus, arms, legs, and chest.
Most people with monkeypox develop a rash, and some develop other symptoms later or not at all.
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What does monkeypox look like?
The rash usually starts within a few days of a fever, but this latest outbreak is the first time the rash has been seen, said Dr. Marshall Glesby, an infectious disease specialist at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian.
After it arrives, the rash progresses from simple sores to hard, slightly raised, clear fluid-filled sores to pustules (sores filled with yellowish fluid), which then crust over and fall off. The number of lesions can range from several thousand to several thousand.
How can I tell the difference between measles, chicken pox and monkey pox?
It is not easy. Smallpox and monkeypox are often mistaken for each other, and in some cases only medical examinations can tell which is which.
The spread of the rash can also give you clues. The monkeypox rash usually starts on the face and spreads elsewhere one to five days after the fever. A chickenpox rash starts on the chest, face, and back a day or two after the fever.
The biggest difference is that monkeypox causes swollen lymph nodes, while chickenpox does not. Testing will determine it for sure.
A measles rash starts at the hairline or forehead and spreads downward, looking like flat red spots or slightly raised bumps that don’t contain fluid.
How long does monkeypox last? How long is monkeypox contagious?
According to the CDC, symptoms usually begin within three weeks of exposure to the virus. From the time symptoms start until the rash has healed, all the scabs have fallen off and a new layer of skin has formed – usually about 2-4 weeks – you are contagious.
How is monkeypox transmitted and transmitted?
Monkeypox is spread through close, personal contact, usually skin-to-skin. This can include direct contact with the rash, scabies, body fluids or respiratory droplets of an infected person.
Monkeypox is not an STD, but it can be transmitted through oral, anal, and vaginal sex, or by touching the genitals of an infected person. Also through hugs, kisses, massages or prolonged face-to-face contact.
Monkey pox cannot be transmitted through casual contact (handshakes, slaps on the cheek) or toilet seats.
Monkey pox can be spread by touching items or fabrics used by an infected person (bedding, towels, clothing, sex toys), but there is no evidence that anyone caught it that way during this outbreak, Glesby said.
Monkey pox can also be transmitted from infected animals, bites, claws, or body fluids, primarily from rodents. In the last outbreak in 2003, people became infected after contact with pets.
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What should I do if I have a rash?
If you develop a new or unexplained rash or other symptoms, avoid close contact with anyone until you are checked by your health care provider or local clinic. This includes sexual or physical intimacy.
You may need to request a special monkeypox test because some health care providers are still learning about it and don’t know if it is spreading in the community.
Should monkeypox be vaccinated?
So far, gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men are most at risk of contracting monkeypox in a 2022 outbreak, health officials say. It also poses a risk to laboratory and health workers and other people, such as close family members of people with monkeypox.
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Where can I find monkeypox vaccine near me? Who is eligible for the monkeypox vaccine?
There are two FDA-licensed vaccines, but one, ACAM2000, is not recommended for people with compromised immune systems or those in close contact with them because it uses a live virus that can be transmitted. A safer vaccine, JYNNEOS or MVA, is not as widely available, but the Biden administration has released more than 1.1 million doses, with another 5.5 million doses to come in 2023. It requires two doses taken four weeks apart.
In Florida, vaccines are available through your county health department or health care providers who obtain doses from the health department. It cannot be purchased through local pharmacies such as CVS, Walgreens or Publix due to a lack of supplies.
Does the smallpox vaccine protect against monkeys?
If you got the smallpox vaccine before routine immunization ended in the U.S. in the 1970s, you can still be protected against monkeypox, experts say, but it’s not yet clear how much.
Should I be worried about monkeypox?
You should be aware of this and pay attention to local media reports and updates from your local and state Department of Health.
Is monkeypox a gay disease?
A horse. Although the recent outbreak has attracted public attention, the virus has been spreading and evolving in Nigeria for the past five years, says Dr. Ali Khan, epidemiologist and dean of the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Monkey pox can be transmitted through close or intimate contact between people of different sexual orientations. In the US, two children who had close contact with infected family members were diagnosed with it.
Gays should not be stigmatized because the virus is spreading among men who have sex with men, Dr. Mahdi Sobhani, an infectious disease specialist at Ohio State University Medical Center.
“Don’t think of it as a gay disease. It can be intimate,” he said.
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Contributing: Karen Weintraub, Mike Snyder, USA TODAY, Douglas Ray, Gainesville Sun
CA Bridges is a digital producer for the USA TODAY Network, working with multiple newsrooms in Florida. Local journalists work hard to keep you informed about the things you care about, and you can support them by subscribing to your local news organization. Read more of Chris’ articles here and follow him on Twitter @cabridges