Last Wednesday the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) reported nine confirmed cases of monkeypox across seven states in the US. Along with about 300 cases reported this month with most of them being based in Europe. They are further investigating the sudden findings as part of a global outbreak. The seven states where the cases were discovered with monkeypox are Massachusetts, Florida, Utah, Washington, California, Virginia, and New York Most of the cases have been found to be among gay and bisexual men, but in Virginia, the case is a woman.
The LGBTQ+ Community has displayed its resilience and fortitude while confronting the seriousness of the AIDS epidemic which had taken form during the 80s. For infectious diseases, there are no limits to the possibility of exposure. There is not a social group, ethnicity, or piece of land that is exempt from it. These diseases surpass boundaries and man-made borders. In its actuality, a virus is natural in its nature.
A virus is made of an overlay of atoms, bacteria, and cells that are able to infest and infect a vessel within days in most cases. However, with nature there must be a balance — science is the balance. The brilliant minds of the many in lab coats work tirelessly to produce answers and counteract to better battle these epidemics.
As CDC continues research they have found that some of the nine cases have recently traveled internationally raising questions and begetting further investigation. Dr. Raj Panjabi, White House senior director for health security and biodefense stated: “We shouldn’t be surprised to see more cases reported in the US in the upcoming days.”
Courtesy of NIAID (CC0)
From Panjabi’s perspective, it is not a matter of if but, rather when the next wave of cases will arise. Doctors must continue to stay active and alert as their jobs may become harder than their usual difficult schedules. The CDC has tracked “multiple clusters of monkeypox” in unusual regions like Europe and more in North America.
The idea that infectious diseases have no physical boundaries seems more and more apparent with these new findings by the CDC, vigilance is paramount if the world wants to prevent another global outbreak no matter the number of infections. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a humbling teacher in terms of rules and adjustments made to the everyday lives of the entire world.
Symptoms of monkeypox entail fever, headache, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes. Attributes of the disease include lesions, pustules, and a rash on the body, palms, and soles of the feet. While it is a virus, it is not elementary as many would believe; it travels from animal to human and then transmits human-to-human through physical and or close direct contact. The transmission of the virus is a very specific and linear contraction.
The U.S. remains prepared as they have mobilized a vaccine for monkeypox to the reported states. One of the vaccines, Jynneos, has been proven to thwart the disease in adults 18 years of age and older. Though the monkeypox is dangerous and contagious, it is doubtful that it can become a pandemic.
Written by Mikal Eggleston
Edited by Sheena Robertson
Sources:
CNN: CDC identifies 9 monkeypox cases in 7 states; by Betsy Klein and Jacqueline Howard Reuters: Unlikely monkeypox outbreak will lead to pandemic; by Natalie Glover
Featured Image Courtesy of NIAID’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
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