Possible Monkeypox Case Found In Florida, State Health Officials Say

BROWARD COUNTY, FL — A suspected case of Monkeypox has been found in Florida, the state health department confirmed Sunday.

State and federal health officials were investigating a presumptive case of monkeypox in Broward County, according to a news release from the Florida Department of Health in Broward County, which was shared on Twitter by NBC 6 reporter Cristian Benavides.

The first recent case of monkeypox in the U.S. was confirmed Wednesday in Massachusetts. While mainly found in western and central Africa, confirmed and suspected cases have surfaced since mid-May in Portugal, Spain, the U.K., Canada and Austria. Two possible cases have also been identified in New York City, according to the New York Times.

The Broward County case is related to international travel, officials said, and the patient is isolated. Experts are investigating possible exposures.

Monkeypox starts with flu-like symptoms and swelling of the lymph nodes before progressing to the rest of the body in a rash, or "pox." Human-to-human transmission generally requires prolonged face-to-face contact, or direct contact with lesions or contaminated items, according to the state health department.

“Therefore, the risk of exposure remains low,” the health department said, noting the smallpox vaccine likely provides cross-protection.