MIAMI – The number of monkeypox cases in Florida is on the rise.
The state’s health department said there are now 525 cases. More than half were in our tri-county area.
The health department said there were 135 confirmed or probable cases in Miami-Dade, 237 cases in Broward, and 12 cases in Monroe.
New national data shows the number of new monkeypox cases is doubling about every week. so far, there have been more than 6,300 reported cases across 48 states. New York, California, and Illinois have declared states of emergency to help fight the outbreak.
Once a person becomes infected with the monkeypox virus they can pass it to other people. Human-to-human transmission generally requires prolonged, face-to-face contact, direct contact with an active rash, or indirect contact with an active rash through contaminated items, such as contaminated clothing.
Monkeypox is not considered a highly contagious disease, and the risk of contracting it is generally low.
Monkeypox typically begins with flu-like symptoms (e.g., fever, chills, headache, tiredness, muscle aches) and swelling of the lymph nodes and progresses to a rash on the face and body. The duration of illness is usually 2 to 4 weeks.