What to know after Florida sees first suspected case of monkeypox

Florida’s first suspected case of the monkeypox virus in Broward County is drawing attention from health officials.

If you’ve looked at images out of Africa, monkeypox is frightening. Despite the blistering lesions seen in severe cases, the illness is rarely fatal. And this particular strain is considered mild.

University of Florida virus researcher John Lednicky said it was sequenced in Portugal and is determined to be a less severe form.

“So, in most people, it’s not going to cause a very serious illness,” Lednicky explained. “And most people will get over it.”

In Broward County, where the state’s first suspected case was found, doctors held a news conference to make people aware of the signs and symptoms.

Broward Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joshua Lenchus said, “It looks like chickenpox. It’s very different in its distribution. So chickenpox follows a very linear kind of pattern rash generally on the trunk. On the upper in the front or in the back, smoked. Monkeypox follows a very different distribution, it usually starts on the face, the head could start in the mouth, and then it sort of cascades down the body.”

The monkeypox virus spreads through bodily fluids, skin and respiratory droplets. It requires close contact with someone who’s infected.

It’s far less transmissible than COVD-19. Unlike COVID, this virus is less likely to undergo changes.

“DNA viruses, like monkeypox virus, tend to mutate less than what you see with RNA viruses,” Lednicky added,” And so that can be a good thing because this is a mild form the chance of suddenly mutating to the more virulent form is really, really, really low.”

Because this is not a new virus, doctors understand how to treat it and how it relates to the family of poxviruses.

Dr. Lenchus said, “Chickenpox is not preventive against monkeypox, although that virus, the chickenpox virus, is in the same categories, in the same family as monkeypox. But what we have found is we have found that folks that did get the smallpox vaccine have some protection against getting monkeypox.”

The infection starts with fever, headache, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes before progressing to the rash and blisters, which can leave permanent scars.

It usually lasts between 2 and 4 weeks. Doctors stress seeking medical attention for any suspected case.

Monkeypox is rarely fatal at about 1% in the United States, but higher in developing nations with less access to health care.