Monkeypox comes to Pinellas
July 7, 2022 - Pinellas County officials reported four new cases of monkeypox this week, bringing the total to five. An additional case was found in Polk County, bringing its total to two. No other counties in the Tampa Bay region have reported infected residents. Health officials say monkeypox is similar to smallpox and is typically a mild, viral illness. However, immunocompromised, pregnant women, infants and people with skin conditions can develop serious and even deadly complications. Symptoms can take as long as 21 days to develop, and include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, rash and headaches. The federal government is now working to distribute vaccines to the most at-risk populations.