PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — The Pinellas County Health Department reports the county now has seven cases of monkeypox; bringing the total cases to 10 for the area.

Health care professionals are bracing themselves for the rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus.

Alongside them is HCA Florida Pasadena Hospital Infectious Disease Control Specialist Ava Dobin.

"My job as I make my rounds on the unit is to make sure that I can answer their questions," she said, while aiding a nurse put on her personal protective equipment. "I can let them know that the personal protective equipment that they're wearing is what they need."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the monkeypox virus is part of the same family of viruses as smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder; and monkeypox is rarely fatal. Monkeypox is not related to chickenpox.

Infectious disease specialist Ava Dobin reviews symptoms the of monkeypox (Fadia Patterson/Spectrum Bay News 9

Dobin says there are currently no cases at the hospital, but she reinforces why it's important for safety protocols for all diseases to be in place.

"The isolation (for monkeypox) will be different with what we are currently doing with coronavirus patients," she said.

Dobin begins each day by meeting with doctors, nurses and staff.

"Now that the coronavirus is on the downhill, hopefully, we're gearing up for monkeypox, because with infection prevention and control there is always something new out there," Dobin said.

She began her career in 1981 and is involved in every department at the hospital to ensure health standards are followed.

"To me it's my calling," Dobin said. She said it's all about providing quality care patients and making health care workers feel safe on the job.

"I've been doing this a very long time, more than 40 years and working through a brand new worldwide pandemic is off my bucket list," she said.

"I think the community is more aware that infection control exists and what we do, whereas prior to COVID they have not ever heard of us."

Dobin says the AIDS/HIV epidemic in the early 80's and the book 'The Hot Zone' inspired her career path.

"It's the story of AIDS and how AIDS came about, so it's a fabulous read, and ever since then I said that's what I want to do. I want to work with diseases."

When she's not on the floor, Dobin is in her office working on updating data for the Health Department.

"It's very important that as infection prevention people we report out to comply with Florida Law," she said. "It's not just for statistic sake, the health department needs to go out to ensure patients that are not admitted are being treated appropriately."

Dobin says most health care workers are entering rare territory with monkeypox.

"A lot of physicians, nurses, including myself have never seen a case on a patient," she said.

However after witnessing their dedication during the pandemic, she's confident they can handle this and she is inspired to help health employees fight this disease safely.

"They have my utmost respect, those that took care of the patients and worked those extra shifts and did what they needed to do."