News
Monkeypox eradication unlikely in the U.S. as virus could spread indefinitely, CDC says
Published
2 years agoon
By
New Yorker
The monkeypox virus is unlikely to be eliminated from the U.S. in the near future, according to a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week.
The CDC, in a technical brief, said the outbreak is slowing as the availability of vaccines has increased, people have become more aware of how to avoid infection, and immunity has likely increased among gay and bisexual men, the group most impacted by the virus.
But low-level transmission of the virus could continue indefinitely among men who have sex with other men, according to the report. The CDC said it does not have a projection of how many total people might get infected by the virus.
The Biden administration declared a public health emergency in August in an effort to ramp up vaccines, testing, treatment and community outreach in an effort to eradicate the virus from the U.S.
The U.S. is trying to contain the largest monkeypox outbreak in the world, with nearly 26,000 cases reported across all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, according to CDC data. At least two people have died from the disease in the U.S., according to the data.
The global monkeypox outbreak, the largest in history, is highly unusual because the virus is circulating widely in countries where it is not normally found. Historically, monkeypox has circulated in remote parts of West and Central Africa. In that context, people normally caught the virus from animals. There was little spread between people.
Monkeypox is now spreading widely between people, mostly through close contact during sex among gay and bisexual men. The disease is rarely fatal, but patients develop lesions resembling blisters in sensitive areas that are extremely painful. In some cases, the pain is so great people require hospitalization and in rare instances people with weak immune systems have died.
The CDC, in its report, said the virus is still spreading primarily among men who have sex with men. But anyone can catch the virus through close contact with someone who is infected or with contaminated materials. Health authorities have confirmed 29 cases of children catching the virus to date, and 78 total pediatric cases are under investigation as of late September.
Though 96% of patients are men, 408 women have caught the virus to date in the U.S. Four pregnant women and one who was breastfeeding have caught monkeypox.
The CDC said the percentage of patients who identify as gay or bisexual men has declined over time, with 75% of people who provided recent sexual history reporting male-to-male contact.
But a large number of cases are missing data on sexual history and more than 90% of infections are among males, according to CDC. The decline in the percentage of cases reporting male-to-male sexual contact is likely due to missing data rather than a change in how the virus is spreading, according to the public health agency.
The CDC said the outbreak will likely remain concentrated among men who have sex with men over the long term, with infections continuing to decline over the coming weeks and dropping significantly over the next several months.
More than 684,000 people have received the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine so far. Earlier this week, the CDC reported preliminary data indicating that the vaccine is providing at least some protection against infection. The vaccination campaign is primarily focused on gay and bisexual men.
The outbreak could start accelerating again if the virus starts spreading widely among the U.S. population through heterosexual networks or contact that doesn’t involve sex, according to CDC. But there is no country in the current global outbreak that has found clear evidence of sustained spread of the virus outside sexual networks of gay and bisexual men, according to the CDC.
The public health agency also warned that the virus could start spreading faster again among people if it becomes established in an animal population in the U.S. The CDC said it is unknown which animals in North America are most susceptible to infection.
In Africa, the virus mostly spread from animals to people. If monkeypox becomes established in animals in the U.S., it would be very difficult to eradicate.
Source: CNBC
Knife: Salman Rushdie’s memoir of surviving attack – Asia Times
Oldorf: House and stable in full fire – 140 cows saved
Jayden Daniels is reportedly uninterested in playing for the Commanders. Could he fall to the Patriots at No. 3?
Meghan Markle Isn’t Alone: How the Super-Rich Fell in Love With Jam-Making
Comer denounces Greene’s motion to vacate Speaker: ‘Not the right business model’
Bovine Colostrum Supplements Are Everywhere—But Are the Health Benefits Legit?
You’ll Now Have to Pay Extra for an Actual Color on Your 2024 Mustang
Discover Ubud With Hoshinoya Bali
Aston Martin Reverses Course, Will Sell Combustion Cars Into the 2030s
Improved search drives OTA investment in 2024, finds Amadeus
Knife: Salman Rushdie’s memoir of surviving attack – Asia Times
Jayden Daniels is reportedly uninterested in playing for the Commanders. Could he fall to the Patriots at No. 3?
20 Great Deals on Eco-Friendly Products to Celebrate Earth Day
Why Justin Timberlake Turned Down Working With Jay-Z
South Korean president facing 3 lame duck years? – Asia Times
Trending
-
Tech2 hours ago
Philosopher Daniel Dennett dead at 82
-
News2 hours ago
VW workers in Tennessee vote to join UAW in historic win for Detroit union
-
Tech2 hours ago
Amazon surprises 13 Seattle-area students with ‘Future Engineer’ college scholarships
-
Sport2 hours ago
Hamilton suffers shock early elimination in qualifying for Chinese GP
-
Travel2 hours ago
UK Passengers to Turks and Caicos Islands Increase as March Sets New Record for Air Arrivals
-
Food2 hours ago
This Easy Addition to Your Egg Muffins Will Double Your Protein at Breakfast
-
Wellness2 hours ago
What My First Time Having Sex After Giving Birth Felt Like
-
News1 hour ago
Pedestrian hit by car near major Tampa intersection