Sat 04 June 2022:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States said Friday that it is aware of more than 700 monkeypox cases worldwide, including 21 in the United States, with investigations currently indicating that the disease is spreading within the country.
According to a new CDC analysis, 16 of the first 17 cases were among people who identify as men who have intercourse with men, and 14 were suspected to be travel-related.
All of the patients are recovering or have recovered, and there have been no fatalities.
On a conference call with reporters, Jennifer McQuiston, deputy director of the CDC’s Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, said, “There have also been some cases in the United States that we know are linked to known cases.”
“We also have at least one case in the United States that does not have a travel link or know how they acquired their infection.”
Monkeypox is a rare disease that is related to but less severe than smallpox, causing a rash that spreads, fever, chills, and aches, among other symptoms.
Generally confined to western and central Africa, cases have been reported in Europe since May and the number of countries affected has grown since.
On Friday, Canada announced additional numbers, revealing that there have been 77 confirmed cases, almost all of which have been found in Quebec province, where vaccines have been provided.
Though its new spread may be linked to particular gay festivals in Europe, monkeypox is not thought to be a sexually transmitted disease, with the main risk factor being close skin-to-skin contact with someone who has monkey pox sores.
A person is contagious until all the sores have scabbed and new skin is formed.
“Anyone can get monkeypox and we are carefully monitoring for monkeypox that may be spreading in any population, including those who are not identifying as men who have sex with men,” said McQuiston.
That being said, the CDC is undertaking special outreach in the LGBT community, she added.
A suspected case “should be anyone with a new characteristic rash,” or anyone who meets the criteria for high suspicion such as relevant travel, close contact, or being a man who has sex with men.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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