What is Mpox?
Mpox is a rare disease caused by infection with the mpox virus. Mpox virus is part of the same family of viruses as variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. Mpox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder, and mpox is rarely fatal. Mpox is not related to chickenpox (CDC, 2022). Mpox has also been known as Monkeypox in the past.
Who is at risk? Anyone can get Mpox.
Those more likely to get monkeypox include:
How is Mpox spread from person to person?
Mpox can spread to anyone through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact, including:
What are the symptoms?
People with mpox get a rash that may be located on the genital areas, hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth.
• The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing.
• The rash can initially look like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy.
Other symptoms of mpox can include:
You may experience all or only a few symptoms
What can I do to stay well?
All information provided is referenced through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Please use the following links for additional information.
About Mpox | Mpox | Poxvirus | CDC
If You Are Sick | Mpox | Poxvirus | CDC
Prevention | Monkeypox | Poxvirus | CDC
Safer Sex, Social Gatherings, and Mpox | Mpox | Poxvirus | CDC
Signs and Symptoms | Mpox | Poxvirus | CDC
Resources for home kits for rapid antigen testing for COVID-19 are greatly expanding and we would like to share some recent updates.
Effective Saturday 1/15/2022, President Biden released an executive order which mandates that all insurances pay for the cost of 8 at-home rapid tests per each covered individual per month. Check with your insurance carrier for any preferred pharmacies and method of reimbursement. For employees with FL Blue coverage, you will need to purchase test kits out of pocket and submit UPC code and receipt for reimbursement with a paper claim. Additional details for FL Blue, including a link to the form for a paper claim, is available at the following website: https://www.floridablue.com/covid19/health-information under section labeled “Where to Get a COVID-19 Test.”
Effective 1/19/2022, every individual can request up to 4 free tests subsidized by the federal government at www.COVIDTests.gov.
The federal government has also announced an expansion of federally-funded testing sites for rapid antigen and PCR tests. Each state with CAN clinics has an online testing site locator:
Florida: https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/testing-sites/
New Jersey: https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/testing
Texas: https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/coronavirus/testing.aspx
South Carolina: https://scdhec.gov/covid19/find-covid-19-testing-location
Arizona: https://www.azdhs.gov/covid19/index.php#everyone-get-tested
Virginia: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/protect-yourself/covid-19-testing/covid-19-testing-sites/
The White House released a statement regarding the expansion of testing services:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/01/14/fact-sheet-the-biden-administration-to-begin-distributing-at-home-rapid-covid-19-tests-to-americans-for-free/
As the number of Covid 19 cases continue to increase, CAN Community Health would like to remind our patients that we are still in the middle of the Flu season until February, so it is important not to let your guard down.
The signs and symptoms of Covid 19 and the Flu are very similar, and both diseases can result in severe illness and complications, which can be minimized by simple measures such as hand washing, social distancing, mask wearing, and getting vaccinated.
Some of the most common signs and symptoms for both diseases may include: fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, tiredness, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, headaches, and nausea and vomiting. These can range from no symptoms to mild or severe symptoms.
Per CDC recommendations, and due to the increase in the Covid 19 variants, and most recently the Delta and Omicron variants in the U.S., we are strongly encouraging our patients to get vaccinated for Covid 19 and for the Flu, as both viruses will likely be circulating at the same time and cause similar symptoms. People can be infected with both viruses (Flu and COVID-19) at the same time and have symptoms of both.
If you are interested in finding a COVID-19 vaccine location near you, click here, or contact any local pharmacy near you or the Department of Health for your county.
Please contact your local CAN Community Health location to make an appointment for a flu vaccine or with help finding resources.
If you are currently experiencing any respiratory, flu or cold-like symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, fever) and need to be evaluated by your provider, do not come to the clinic and call (844) 922-2777 to speak with a medical professional. For any urgent symptoms, call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room.
You may also Click here to see the latest CDC Coronavirus Information.
For persons who received a Pfizer or Moderna 2-dose vaccine series, a booster dose is a 3rd dose given at least 6 months after the 2nd dose. For persons who received the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine, a booster dose is given at least 2 months after the initial dose.
Any of the three vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J) can be used as a booster dose, regardless of which vaccine was first received.
Immunity from original courses of vaccines against COVID-19 decreases over time. Studies show booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines help improve that immunity. By getting a booster, you help to reduce your chances of becoming ill with COVID-19, even in the case of breakthrough infection. Persons who are boosted and do get COVID-19 are much less likely to become seriously ill or die from the disease than persons who did not get boosted.
The purpose of the COVID-19 Self-Checker is to help you make decisions about seeking appropriate medical care. This system is not intended for the diagnosis or treatment of disease.
Please click here if you need Telehealth visit instructions.
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(813) 769-7207
If you are currently experiencing any respiratory, flu or cold symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, fever) and need to be evaluated by your provider, please call (844) 922-2777 to speak with a medical professional. For any urgent symptoms, call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room.
You may also Click here to see the latest CDC Coronavirus Information.