The Florida Division of Well being in Broward County reported its first case of the monkeypox virus on Sunday.
Broward County officers mentioned in a press release that the case arose from worldwide journey, and the one who was contaminated is at the moment remoted.
“DOH-Broward is conducting epidemiological investigations to inform potential exposures and provide potential post-exposure prophylaxis,” Broward officers mentioned. “Presently, DOH-Broward has not recognized any further instances.”
The case in Broward County marks the third confirmed monkeypox case within the U.S.
The U.S. documented its first confirmed monkeypox case on Wednesday, after a Massachusetts man contracted the virus whereas visiting Canada.
The second confirmed case was documented in New York Metropolis on Friday. The town’s Division of Well being and Psychological Hygiene confirmed with ABC News {that a} affected person examined constructive for orthopoxvirus — a virus related to monkeypox.
Monkeypox is a viral sickness that causes fever-like signs, together with complications, fatigue, physique aches, and a bumpy rash on an individual’s pores and skin. The virus, belonging to the identical viral household as smallpox, was first found in 1958 after an infectious outbreak occurred between two colonies of monkeys, in keeping with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC).
Circumstances are hardly ever seen outdoors of Africa, however the virus has unfold throughout quite a few international locations, together with the UK, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Sweden, and Canada, due to worldwide journey. The virus can unfold in a number of methods, together with by way of contaminated animals, person-to-person contact, blood, and bodily fluids.
The vast majority of monkeypox infections come from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in keeping with the CDC.
Dr. Richard Martinello, an infectious illness knowledgeable from Yale, instructed Avisionews on Friday that there will likely be extra instances of monkeypox within the U.S.
“I anticipate that over the following few weeks, we’ll proceed to see extra instances being recognized, however I don’t count on that we are going to see exponentially rising numbers of this,” Martinello beforehand instructed Avisionews.
Martinello mentioned he believes monkeypox “doesn’t appear to be as transmissible as one thing like COVID or the flu.”
The smallpox vaccine can defend folks from contracting monkeypox, in keeping with the CDC. Beforehand reported knowledge from Africa means that the vaccine is “at the least 85% efficient in stopping monkeypox.”
Whereas talking to a gaggle of reporters in South Korea on Sunday, President Joe Biden mentioned the current monkeypox instances within the U.S. and Europe are “one thing to be involved about.”
“It’s a concern in that if it have been to unfold, it will be consequential,” Biden mentioned, in keeping with the Related Press. “They haven’t instructed me the extent of publicity but, however it’s one thing that everyone ought to be involved about.”
