Minding the Mpox
TUBS, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Addressing the Mpox outbreak in Africa
Monkeypox had yet another major outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in August of 2024, and is considered a worldwide concern, but here’s why people shouldn’t have to worry.
Mpox, formerly called Monkeypox, was spread by contaminated animals having lengthy contact with people. This most recent outbreak has not spread away from the DRC, but precautions for it were taken. A vaccine for the Mpox has already been produced and was distributed.
“While the risk to the United States is low right now, it’s better to get immunity and better to get a vaccine before a crisis starts,“ Health Reporter Ferit Nirappil stated.
Mpox is not as severe as COVID-19 due to its difference in spread due to its less drastic form of contagion.
“It spreads via direct contact or sex, and kissing, and very close respiratory droplets, but not over longer distances by the respiratory spread," Dr. Marc Siegel said to Fox News.
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There were specific groups that had different contraction rates of Mpox.
“While Mpox can affect anyone, data has shown that men who have sex with men are disproportionately impacted,” Dr. Brad Perkins stated. “With a notable disease burden among Black and Hispanic men.”
From its outbreak in the DRC, the Mpox has circulated in Africa, with both of its strands, clade one and clade two.
“CDC has reiterated that at this time, the risk to the general public in the United States from clade one Mpox is very low, and there are no known cases in the United States at this time,” a CDC spokesperson said.
Mpox will likely be resolved without any drastic measures such as a worldwide quarantine.
“Most cases are manageable with proper medical care, and the disease typically resolves on its own without severe complications,” Doctor Rohit Garg stated in her article about Mpox myths.
Following the previous outbreaks, Mpox was considered most likely to be resolved in less than a year.
“With the governments’ leadership and close cooperation between partners, we believe we can stop these outbreaks in the next six months,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a news conference.