Possible case of monkeypox investigated in Florida

Florida health authorities detected an alleged case of monkeypox in Broward County, in southern Florida, they announced Sunday.

One man was isolated and is receiving necessary medical care while the case is being investigated jointly with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to the Florida Department of Health.

The man recently took an international trip, where he is believed to have acquired the virus, Infobae reports. So far, no other suspected case has been detected in the state.

Authorities are in the process of informing all people who have been exposed. However, they reminded those notified that the risk of monkeypox infection is "relatively low."

The finding comes after U.S. authorities detected the first case of monkeypox in the country last Wednesday and issued a health alert on Friday.

The virus was discovered in an adult male from Massachusetts who recently traveled to Canada.

Another patient in New York tested positive for the monkeypox-related virus, but the disease has not yet been confirmed, the New York State Department of Health said on Friday.

Health authorities were investigating two possible cases of the virus in New York. The first case was ruled out, while the second tested positive for Orthopoxvirus, which is the family of viruses to which monkeypox belongs, according to NBC New York.

Orthopoxvirus has different strands that cause diseases in humans, such as smallpox virus, vaccinia (strain used for smallpox vaccination), and monkeypox virus.

In humans, the symptoms of monkeypox are similar to those of smallpox, although milder. They begin with fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, chills, and exhaustion. The main difference is that monkeypox causes the lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy), whereas smallpox does not.

It is normal to develop a rash, which often starts on the face and then spreads to other parts of the body, particularly the hands and feet, including the genitals. The disease usually lasts two to four weeks.