The CDC issued a health alert following an outbreak of a new strain of monkeypox virus (MPXV, or mpox) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on August 7, and on August 14, WHO declared a global health emergency.
This is the second time since 2022 that WHO has declared a global health emergency due to mpox outbreaks.
“In July 2022, the multi-country outbreak of mpox was declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) as it spread rapidly via sexual contact across a range of countries where the virus had not been seen before. That PHEIC was declared over in May 2023 after there had been a sustained decline in global cases,” WHO’s August 14 update said.
“Last year, reported cases increased significantly, and already the number of cases reported so far this year has exceeded last year’s total, with more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths (worldwide).”
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s total is even higher, reporting more than 17,000 cases across the continent so far in 2024.
These advisories are due to a new strain of the virus, which is more contagious and deadly. There have been no confirmed cases of this new strain in the U.S. Here’s what to know about monkeypox and when the last confirmed cases in Florida were reported.
Is there monkeypox in Florida?
There are no confirmed cases of the new strains of monkeypox, called cladeI and cladeIb, in the U.S. or in Florida.
The CDC’s most recent mpox reports, from April 2024, report that there have been 744 cases of cladeII in the U.S. so far this year, which is the strain of mpox that sparked a global health emergency in 2022.
According to that same CDC data set, Florida had 59 confirmed cases of monkeypox in 2024, as of April 13.
The Florida Department of Health’s Reportable Diseases Frequency Report says that there have been more than 1,800 confirmed cases of mpox in Florida so far this year, as of August 18, but that data isn’t consistent with CDC or WHO reports.
Where are current monkeypox outbreaks?
The current monkeypox outbreaks that sparked CDC and WHO’s announcements of a global health emergency are in Africa, spread accross 13 African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic and others.
According to USA TODAY, “Africa CDC has reported 500 deaths and asked for international medical help.”
What are the first signs of monkeypox?
“People with mpox often get a rash that may be located on hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth or near the genitals, including penis, testicl*s, labia and vagin*, and anus,” the CDC says.
“The incubation period is 3–17 days. During this time, a person does not have symptoms and may feel fine.”
Here are some details about the monkeypox rash and some other symptoms of monkeypox, according to the CDC:
The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing.
The rash can initially look like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy.
Other symptoms of mpox can include:
Fever
Chills
Swollen lymph nodes
Exhaustion
Muscle aches and backache
Headache
Respiratory symptoms (e.g., sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)
“You may experience all or only a few symptoms.”
Where is monkeypox most commonly found?
Monkeypox, which is similar to smallpox (but less severe), is mainly found in Africa, but has spread to other places, including the U.S., in the past.
“Mpox continues to occur in countries of central and west Africa. Since May 2022, cases have also been reported from countries without previously documented mpox transmission outside the African region,” WHO says.
“Two distinct clades of the monkeypox virus have been identified: Clade I (previously known as the Congo Basin (central African) clade and Clade II (the former west African clade).”
How do you get tested for monkeypox?
The CDC only recommends getting tested for monkeypox if you have a rash that’s consistent with the description of the mpox rash.
Here are the CDC’s recommendations for getting tested for monkeypox:
Only a healthcare provider can order an mpox test. The healthcare provider may take a specimen and send it to a lab for testing or they may send you to a lab for both specimen collection and testing.
Contact your local health department with any questions and to find out what the testing options are for your community.
Is it monkeypox or mpox?
According to the CDC, mpox was originally thought to have come from monkeys, hence the name, but that may not be true.
“Monkeypox virus was discovered in 1958, when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research. Despite being named “monkeypox” originally, the source of the disease remains unknown. Scientists suspect African rodents and non-human primates (like monkeys) might harbor the virus and infect people,” the CDC says.
“The first human case of mpox was recorded in 1970, in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2022, mpox spread around the world. Before that, cases of mpox in other places were rare and usually linked to travel or to animals being imported from regions where mpox is endemic.”
Since 2022, the preferred name used by WHO has been "mpox," not "monkeypox."
"When the outbreak of monkeypox expanded earlier this year, racist and stigmatizing language online, in other settings and in some communities was observed and reported to WHO," WHO announced in November 2022.
"In several meetings, public and private, a number of individuals and countries raised concerns and asked WHO to propose a way forward to change the name."
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Monkeypox outbreak in Africa: What is the case status in Florida?
