Monkey Pox Cases Climb to Over 1400 in Florida – WQCS

Florida - Friday August 19, 2022: The first case of Monkey Pox has been confirmed in a four-year old child living in Martin County.

However, the states leading health official sought to re-assure the public this week that that was an isolated case. They say the disease remains confined primarily to a limited group of people and does not pose a threat to the population at large.

As of Thursday, 1,432 cases of Monkey Pox had been reported throughout Florida.

Dr. Ulyee Choe, the Florida Department of Healths Statewide Medical Director briefed reports on the status of the outbreak. The majority of cases are occurring in the MSN community, men who have sex with men, specifically a sub-set that engage in high risk behavior such as multiple sexual partners as well as anonymous sexual encounters.

The vast majority of the cases have been reported in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, and almost all the cases have been reported in men. Of the Florida cases the medium age has been 38. Looking at the gender breakdown, 99% have been male, 1% female. 51% are people living with HIV.

Six cases have now been reported in Martin County however, including a confirmed case in a 4-year-old, according to the Reportable Disease Frequency Report on the Florida Health website. You have to keep in mind its not readily transmissible," said Dr. Choe. "It spreads by direct skin to skin contact with lesions and not by casual contact.

Three cases have been reported in St. Lucie Counties. None have been reported Indian River or Okeechobee.

Dr. Choe also emphasized that Monkey Pox is not deadly and the cases reported in Florida have been relatively mild. He said Testing and vaccines are now available at county health clinics. The vaccine supply remains limited. To date Florida has received a little less than 65,000. Were in the process of converting all our shots to intradermal to really stretch that vaccine supply.

Monkeypox is characterized by a rash that develops into hard, round, fluid or pus-filled skin lesions. Transmission generally requires close human-to-human contact with the lesions or with contaminated items like clothing. The disease is rarely fatal.

Do you think you have or have been diagnosed with MPX?Click HERE for more information on how to protect yourself and others while you are symptomatic.

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Monkey Pox Cases Climb to Over 1400 in Florida - WQCS