After officials identified South Florida’s first presumptive case of monkeypox in Broward County Sunday, experts say the possibility of the virus spreading is low, but it can be dangerous.
It’s part of the largest outbreak ever seen outside of Africa, with at least 190 confirmed or suspected cases globally.
Officials have identified, located and isolated the patient and are going through the contact tracing process to identify anyone potentially exposed to the pathogen. They connected the presumptive Broward case to international travel.
“It’s a virus that’s typically found in locations in Africa,” Dr. Sarah LaRosa said. “Usually it’s animal-to-human transmission but there can be cases of human-to-human transmission; it’s usually with very close contact.”
LaRosa, the emergency room medical director at HCA Florida University Hospital in Davie, said symptoms typically begin with a fever and flu-like symptoms and eventually progresses into a rash.
“People will develop a rash anywhere from one to to three days, at the most five days after the fever starts,” she said.
LaRosa said people have to have prolonged exposure to or direct contact with the lesions in order to contract monkeypox. People can also get monkeypox through contact with something that has fluid from the lesions on it.
She said the virus spreads through close contact and while not highly contagious, it can be dangerous. Deaths, however, are uncommon.
“It’s a virus, so it has to run its course with supportive treatment, but there are some antiviral medications that can be used to treat it,” LaRosa said.
Experts said despite the low likelihood of spread, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention remains on high alert.
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It’s part of the largest outbreak ever seen outside of Africa, with at least 190 confirmed or suspected cases globally.
Officials have identified, located and isolated the patient and are going through the contact tracing process to identify anyone potentially exposed to the pathogen. They connected the presumptive Broward case to international travel.
“It’s a virus that’s typically found in locations in Africa,” Dr. Sarah LaRosa said. “Usually it’s animal-to-human transmission but there can be cases of human-to-human transmission; it’s usually with very close contact.”
LaRosa, the emergency room medical director at HCA Florida University Hospital in Davie, said symptoms typically begin with a fever and flu-like symptoms and eventually progresses into a rash.
“People will develop a rash anywhere from one to to three days, at the most five days after the fever starts,” she said.
LaRosa said people have to have prolonged exposure to or direct contact with the lesions in order to contract monkeypox. People can also get monkeypox through contact with something that has fluid from the lesions on it.
She said the virus spreads through close contact and while not highly contagious, it can be dangerous. Deaths, however, are uncommon.
“It’s a virus, so it has to run its course with supportive treatment, but there are some antiviral medications that can be used to treat it,” LaRosa said.
Experts said despite the low likelihood of spread, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention remains on high alert.
Continue reading...
