South Florida health officials investigating presumptive case of monkeypox virus

FORT LAUDERDALE — Health officials are investigating the state's first presumptive positive case of monkeypox in South Florida.

The Florida Department of Health in Broward County announced Sunday that it and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are conducting epidemiological investigations to determine any possible exposures or offer post-exposure treatment.

The singular case is related to international travel and the person is isolated, a state health department spokesperson said. The CDC will test a specimen for confirmation. No other cases had been identified.

The risk of contracting monkeypox "remains very low to the overall community," a state health department spokesperson said. If a person has received the smallpox vaccine, the Broward health department said there is "likely cross-protection against monkeypox."

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This 1997 image provided by CDC, shows the right arm and torso of a patient, whose skin displayed a number of lesions due to what had been an active case of monkeypox.  As more cases of monkeypox are detected in Europe and North America in 2022, some scientists who have monitored numerous outbreaks in Africa say they are baffled by the unusual disease's spread in developed countries.  (CDC via AP)

What are symptoms of monkeypox disease?

Monkeypox symptoms are milder than those of smallpox, according to the CDC. The disease starts with symptoms such as a headache, fever and aches and leads to a rash on the face that spreads throughout the body.

Transmission of this viral disease requires close, prolonged contact with an infected person's lesions or indirectly with contaminated items.

Health care providers are advised to contact their local health department if they come across a suspected case.

Monkeypox disease history

Groups of cases have been reported across the world since May 14 outside of where the disease is considered endemic in Central and West Africa, according to the CDC. On Friday, the CDC issued a health advisory following a confirmed case in the U.S. by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

The first human case of monkeypox was discovered in 1970, and the disease was first reported outside of the continent of Africa in 2003. There were 71 confirmed and probable cases in six Midwestern U.S. states that year, all of whom were in contact with pet prairie dogs that had arrived from Ghana. Those prairie dogs were part of a shipment of 800 small mammals, like dormice and Gambian pouched rats. About a dozen of the animals were infected with monkeypox.

On Sunday during his first public comments on the disease, President Joe Biden said, “It is a concern, in that if it were to spread, it would be consequential.”

Hannah Morse covers consumer issues for The Palm Beach Post. Drop a line at hmorse@pbpost.com, call 561-820-4833 or follow her on Twitter @mannahhorse.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Broward officials investigate Florida's first presumptive monkeypox case