VIDEO: 7 cases of monkeypox confirmed in Central Florida Volusia County health officials announced Friday that they are investigating a confirmed case of smallpox. (Ashley Edlund, WFTV.com/WFTV)
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Health officials in Volusia County announced Friday that they are investigating a confirmed case of monkey pox.
The Florida Department of Health in Volusia County, the Office of Public Health Laboratories and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating the case. The individual case is isolated and no additional cases have been identified, health officials said.
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Health experts are conducting research to report potential exposures and provide possible post-exposure prophylaxis.
Monkey pox is a viral disease that was once rare in the US and has historically occurred mostly in central and western Africa, the health department said.
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The virus is spread through close and intimate contact with someone who has monkeypox. Transmission usually requires prolonged, face-to-face contact, direct contact with an active rash or indirect contact with an active rash through contaminated items such as clothing, according to health officials.
The threat of monkeypox to the general public remains low.
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According to the Department of Health, there have been seven confirmed cases of smallpox since the first of the year in all Central Florida counties and 24 probable cases. Of those cases, six were in Orange County and one in Seminole County.
Florida has 373 cases.
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