The Monkeypox Virus Has Spread Quickly In Clusters Across The United States

The monkeypox virus has spread rapidly across the U.S

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The monkeypox virus has spread rapidly across the U.S. — at some music festivals, pool parties and bathhouses — and now public health officials in more infected areas want more vaccines to fight the spread, which appears to happen when people come into close contact with each other , skin-to-skin. As the number of monkeypox cases around the world and in the U.S. continues to rise, health officials are increasingly advising the public to heed warning signs. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 15,000 monkeypox cases have been confirmed in 71 countries this year, and 65 of them have no historical monkeypox cases. Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are tracking new monkeypox cases reported in several countries, including the United States, where monkeypox is not frequently reported (see global map).

Since the beginning of May, cases of monkeypox have been reported in countries where it is not normally seen. The World Health Organization has identified more than 550 cases of monkeypox infection in 30 countries, with most cases reported in Europe. This is a rapidly changing situation, but cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in nearly 50 countries, mostly in Europe, and suspected in many other countries. In the United States, we have so far found the virus mainly in northeastern communities, but also in Florida, California and Illinois, with more than 70 cases in total.

What's different - and worrisome - about clusters of monkeypox

What's different - and worrisome - about this case in Massachusetts is that it happens when clusters of monkeypox infections appear in other countries where the virus is also rare. The outbreaks are alarming because the viral disease, which is spread by close contact and was first detected in monkeys, occurs mainly in West and Central Africa and only occasionally spreads to other places.

How monkeypox spread?

Monkeypox viruses commonly circulate among wildlife in Central and West Africa and are commonly spread to humans when they eat or have other close contact with infected animals. Outbreaks sometimes occur in sub-Saharan Africa after someone comes into contact with an infected wild animal, and infected travelers sometimes carry the monkeypox virus to other countries.

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What is monkeypox vaccine?

Two vaccines licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are available for preventing monkeypox infection – JYNNEOS (also known as Imvamune or Imvanex) and ACAM2000. In the United States, there is currently a limited supply of JYNNEOS,

The monkeypox vaccine has been approved by the FDA, but distribution of vaccine doses is difficult due to supply shortages and technical problems. Providing more doses of the vaccine in cities and counties with a growing number of cases should help mitigate the monkeypox epidemic. Having more doses of the vaccine for U.S. cities and counties, especially those where the number of cases is on the rise, could help slow the spread of the monkeypox virus, Freeman said.

Its national monkeypox vaccination strategy will help stop the spread of the virus immediately by providing vaccines to high-risk individuals in the United States. Since the first case was confirmed in the United States on May 18, President Biden has taken important action to make vaccines, tests and treatments available to those who need vaccines as part of his response to the monkeypox epidemic.

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How does monkeypox spread from human to human?

Monkeypox does not spread easily between people. Human-to-human transmission occurs through close contact with infectious material from skin lesions of an infected person, through respiratory droplets in prolonged face-to-face contact, and through fomites.