Monkeypox in Babies? Florida Records First Pediatric Case Amid Growing Threat of Virus

Monkeypox is now targeting a wide array of age groups, as Florida recorded its first pediatric case of the virus.

According to the Florida Department of Health's Reportable Disease Frequency Report, the pediatric case was from Martin County and involved a child between 0-4 years old, according to WEAR-TV. No further details were given by the authorities about the pediatric monkeypox patient in the Sunshine State.

How the Florida child got the virus was unclear, but Pinellas County's Florida Department of Health Director Dr. Ulyee Choe said most cases of monkeypox in children are because by household transmission.

The pediatric monkeypox patient in Florida is the seventh child in the United States to have been infected by the monkeypox virus.

The World Health Organization previously acknowledged that there have been a small number of children with monkeypox in the current outbreak. WHO added that newborn infants and people with underlying immune deficiencies are also at risk of more serious symptoms of monkeypox.

Parents Should Not Worry About Monkeypox School Transmission - Experts

In an interview with Fox 35 on Wednesday, Dr. Ulyee Choe also assured that parents should not worry about monkeypox during the back-to-school season.

"I don't believe that schools especially the K-12 are gonna be bid drivers of this [monkeypox], but with that being said I can tell you that the majority of the school districts throughout the state have protocols in place for a child that presents with rash," Choe underscored.

Choe also previously noted that they will continue to monitor the situation.

Monkeypox is spread by having prolonged skin-to-skin contact with someone. The said disease is reportedly impacting men who have sex with men, but experts believe that the disease could potentially spread into new groups.

In an interview Dr, Bob Wallace underscored the importance of not stigmatizing the disease, contending that the move can lead to other groups letting their guard down against the disease.

"The way I tend to explain that just as with college students, the particular groups are very social they tend to have large parties as you'll see pool parties for example. It doesn't matter whether you're gay or straight," Dr. Wallace pointed out.

Monkeypox Cases in Florida

The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions recorded that there are 1,346 cases of monkeypox throughout Florida as of Wednesday. The state is among the top five states in the U.S. that surpassed the 1,000-mark.

As of Monday, the Sunshine State reported eight cases of monkeypox among teenagers ages 15-to-19 years old.

Florida's Escambia County and Santa Rosa County each have one probable case.

New York and California remain the top two states who have the most cases of monkeypox. According to the data from CDC, the Empire State recorded 2,675 cases while the Golden State recorded 2,356 as of August 17. All in all, 13,517 cases of monkeypox were recorded as of Wednesday acrss the U.S.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Martin County Reports Florida's First Monkeypox Case in Child Under 4 - From WPTV News - FL Palm Beached and Treasure Coast