MPOX is back and more virulent than ever.
A new strain of the disease, which is much more common in Africa, is spreading around the world. Meanwhile, other strains are having a huge resurgence in Florida.
This month the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the MPOX outbreak in parts of Africa a public health emergency of international concern, so far it's killed at least 450 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In the U.S. though, the disease has rarely been fatal.
Since June 1, there have been 3,099 new cases reported in Florida.
South Florida is, once again, an epicenter for new infections. Broward County has seen 745 new cases, Miami-Dade has seen 975 while Palm Beach County reports 128. Combined, these three counties make up 35% of new cases.
When OutSFL first reported the warning of a possible surge in early June, there had only been 101 reported cases so far in 2024 in Florida.
MPOX is affecting the LGBTQ in higher numbers, particularly in men who have sex with men (MSM). The disease is rarely fatal, and those who do have extreme symptoms often have another medical condition, such as lupus or HIV.
The Florida Department of Health in Broward County is offering MPOX vaccinations at the Children’s Reading Center and Museum in Davie.
