Mpox (Monkeypox)

Health leaders are pleased with a dramatic drop in cases in Orange County and throughout Florida compared to rates observed last year.

The CDC estimates Hillsborough has a 52% risk of an mpox outbreak this year, while Pinellas has a 48% risk. Health officials encourage people to get vaccinated now while cases are low.

The agency estimates dozens of U.S. counties are at risk for outbreaks. Duval County is ranked first. Hillsborough and Pinellas are near the top. Health officials say they are working to prevent the scale of infections that surprised the nation last summer.

Some LGBTQ+ advocates say they are having to take matters into their own hands in the absence of a coordinated response from state governments.

The person, whose last day on campus was Sept. 7, will remain home until cleared to return by a medical provider, according to Orange County Public Schools.

A South Florida ARNP wants people to know that temporary skin redness at the injection site of the Jynneos shot is normal. Meantime, HHS says it can soon expand the number of distribution locations for monkeypox vaccines.

Health officials say a change in how monkeypox vaccines are administered should free up more doses. And though anyone can get sick with the virus, they stress infection in kids in rare.

Because of an FDA emergency authorization allowing the vaccine to be administered between layers of skin rather than beneath, the state Department of Health is moving forward with second doses.

The governor says the declarations by California, New York and Illinois are only ways to “restrict people’s freedom.”

County health departments in Florida will use a three-phase plan to distribute the limited supply of vaccines to groups deemed high-risk.

The country's monkeypox outbreak can still be stopped, U.S. health officials said Thursday, despite rising case numbers and so far limited vaccine supplies.

The Florida Department of Health reported on its website Thursday that the county has four cases of the rare disease.