SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. – Community leaders are holding a rally on the campus of Florida International University in hopes of raising awareness about monkeypox among students.
“Young adults are seeing most of the impacts while Hispanics and African Americans are disproportionately affected by monkeypox,” Dr. Saint Anthony Amofah of Community Health of South Florida said.
Amofah said college students and young adults are one of the primary drivers of the current rise in cases.
“This is an age range and demographic that we’re very much concerned about because of all the clubbing, parties, and skin-to-skin contact,” said Amofah.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, statistics show close to 16,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported since mid-May.
Florida currently has the fourth-highest amount of reported cases in the United States, with most coming from South Florida.
The Florida Department of Health confirmed that there are over 700 cases of monkeypox in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
“Monkeypox is spread through physical contact and symptoms could take up to 2 weeks to show after infection ranging from fever headache fatigue and painful rashes,” said the FDOH.
“If you are in any doubt -- any doubt at all -- ask a clinician, “said Amofah.