Monkeypox is on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) radar as there continue to be new infections. In late May, 300 cases of monkeypox were reported with a great sum of them coming from Europe. During that time, the U.S. only had about nine cases across seven states Massachusetts, Florida, Utah, Washington, California, Virginia, and New York, and were still monitoring in case more were to show up.
The cases were more apparent in gay or bisexual men and those who have been in close direct contact with a wild animal or sick person. The CDC suggested people avoid contact with dead or live animals, and sick people (specifically those with skin and genital lesions). They also recommend people avoid using wild game products like lotion and powder or eating wild game to better circumvent monkeypox cases from growing.
There are now Twenty-six confirmed cases in 12 states with Hawaii being the newest addition. States with highly populated cities like Illinois, California, and NYC are easily epicenters of a possible pandemic if the correct protection measures are not taken. It is important to heed the recommendations of the CDC, the last time they were not unanimously taken into consideration by other states, a pandemic stripped the world of its freedom and light and took lives in its wake.
Though the world showed its resilience and strength through the COVID-19 pandemic, going through that again is not ideal no matter how large or small the epidemic, careless behavior could turn a molehill into a mountain.
An Ex-World Health Organization (WHO) worker alleges that monkeypox has been spreading for four years under the radar. Experts also claim that there are two different strains of monkeypox meaning that the virus was transferred from an animal to a human twice.
Dr. Amesh Adalja, an epidemiologist at John Hopkins Center for Health Security believes: “What’s likely happened is an endemic infectious disease from Africa found its way into a social and sexual network and then was greatly aided by major amplification events like raves in Belgium to disseminate around the world.”
Dr. Susan Phillip, a health officer in San Francisco said, “While most cases resolve on their own, monkeypox can be serious in rare cases and we want to prevent further spread in the community,” according to Yahoo! News. Though it may not be as deadly and easily contracted as COVID, it is still dangerous and a virus nonetheless. The diligence of the health experts and people who work in a vigilant manner to stay safe from the virus will turn the tide in what could potentially become an epidemic.
Written by Mikal Eggleston
Edited by Sheena Robertson
Sources:
Daily Mail UK: Monkeypox was spreading globally undetected for ‘years’, WHO expert claims: US tally rises to at least 26 with Hawaii becoming 12th state to spot the virus; by Luke Andrews Health Reporter
NBC News: Monkeypox may have been spreading ‘under the radar’ for months or years; by Benjamin Ryan
CNN: CDC’s travel advisory on monkeypox: ‘Practice enhanced precautions’; by Forrest Brown, CNN
Yahoo News: Suspected monkeypox cases rise in California; officials expect more to come; by Rong-Gong Lin II
Featured Image Courtesy of NIAID’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of NIAID’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
