The first reported case of Monkeypox in all of Central Florida was registered by Orange County health officials this week.
On Thursday, the Florida Department of Health updated its Reportable Diseases Frequency Report to register the first case of Monkeypox in Orange County.
According to the database, it is the first reported case of the disease in all of the counties that comprise Central Florida, including Sumter, Lake, and Marion Counties, among others.
After reports around the world of new cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began tracking monkeypox cases in countries that have not traditionally reported them.
Currently, CDC records show a total of 99 reported monkeypox cases across the country, including 9 in the state of Florida. Over 50 of those cases are in California, New York, and Illinois.
The Monkeypox virus is in the same family as small pox, with similar symptoms that are milder and less fatal. Symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle pain, chills, and fatigue, among others.
The health department’s frequency report is based on reportable disease information received by the Florida Department of Health as mandated by the Florida Statutes and Florida Administrative Code. The data includes confirmed and/or probable cases that have occurred in Florida among its residents.
For more information on the disease, visit the CDC Monkeypox website.