Second case of monkeypox reported in Lee and Collier counties; 4 total in SWFL

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Monkeypox
FILE – This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right, obtained from a sample of human skin associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. WHO’s top monkeypox expert Dr. Rosamund Lewis said she doesn’t expect the hundreds of cases reported to date to turn into another pandemic, but acknowledged there are still many unknowns about the disease, including how exactly it’s spreading and whether the suspension of mass smallpox immunization decades ago may somehow be speeding its transmission. (Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner/CDC via AP, File)

The Florida Department of Health is reporting a second monkeypox case in Lee County and a second case in Collier County as of Friday. Southwest Florida now totals four cases.

According to FDOH data, there are 227 cases of monkeypox across the state of Florida with the majority (117) in Broward County. In Miami-Dade County, there are 60 cases.

The first case in SWFL was reported in Collier County on July 1.

Most monkeypox patients experience only fever, body aches, chills and fatigue.

According to the Florida Health Department in Collier County, monkeypox typically begins with flu-like symptoms and swelling of the lymph nodes and progresses to a rash on the face and body. The duration of the illness is usually between two to four weeks.

Monkeypox comes from the same family of viruses as smallpox. Monkeypox is much milder and rarely fatal.

There are two vaccines licensed by the FDA to treat monkeypox and those are being rolled out along with a diagnostic test that is launching through Quest Diagnostics.

The Centers for Disease Control warn this vaccine is not for everyone.

People who are immunocompromised, pregnant or those with existing skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis should not get this vaccine.

According to the Baylor College of Medicine, one of the monkeypox vaccines finds a skin rash and causes an infection and patches of tissue to die. Left untreated that can cause death in a matter of hours.

If you have a skin condition make sure you talk to your doctor before getting the monkeypox vaccine.

Kristine Hollingsworth, the PIO for the Florida Department of Health for Collier County said although this is an outbreak, monkeypox isn’t a threat to the general public.

“Monkeypox is primarily affecting members of the LGBTQ community primarily men who have sex with men,” Hollingsworth said.

Hollingsworth said right now the Florida Department of Health is allocating the vaccine to those who are part of those risk groups.

In the U.S Florida has the third highest number of monkeypox cases with 226, California and Illinois both have more.

For more information, visit F-DOH.

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