WHO: Monkeypox won't turn into pandemic, but many unknowns
2 years, 7 months ago

WHO: Monkeypox won't turn into pandemic, but many unknowns

The Hindu  

The World Health Organization's top monkeypox expert said she doesn't expect the hundreds of cases reported to date to turn into another pandemic, but acknowledged there are still many unknowns about the disease, including how exactly it's spreading and whether the suspension of mass smallpox immunisation decades ago may somehow be speeding its transmission. “It's very important to describe this because it appears to be an increase in a mode of transmission that may have been under-recognized in the past,” said Lewis, WHO's technical lead on monkeypox. Monkeypox virus transmission unknown Lewis said it's unknown whether monkeypox is being transmitted by sex or just the close contact between people engaging in sexual activity and described the threat to the general population as “low.” “It is not yet known whether this virus is exploiting a new mode of transmission, but what is clear is that it continues to exploit its well-known mode of transmission, which is close, physical contact,” Lewis said. WHO's Lewis also said that while previous cases of monkeypox in central and western Africa have been relatively contained, it was not clear if people could spread monkeypox without symptoms or if the disease might be airborne, like measles or COVID-19.

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History of this topic

US reports ‘severe’ Monkeypox clade 1 variant: What do we know about this strain, symptoms and how to protect
1 month, 3 weeks ago

US reports ‘severe’ Monkeypox clade 1 variant: What do we know about this strain, symptoms and how to protect

Live Mint  

United States on Saturday said the first known case of a more severe strain of the monkeypox virus was reported in California. According to the California Department of Public Health, the patient contracted the clade 1 strain, the latest form of the monkeypox. The clade 1b variant has caused global concern because it seems to sp New Monkeypox strain threat …

Monkeypox under control, but travelers urged to be cautious
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Monkeypox under control, but travelers urged to be cautious

China Daily  

China has effectively controlled monkeypox after it reported its first case in June 2023, and the infectious disease is currently in low prevalence on the mainland, according to the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration. To better prevent and control the disease, China has launched health promotion campaigns to let individuals who plan to visit overseas destinations recording monkeypox outbreaks …

Monkeypox cases in Guangdong detailed in study
4 months ago

Monkeypox cases in Guangdong detailed in study

China Daily  

Most monkeypox cases in Guangdong province have been linked to male-to-male sexual contact, according to a study by Chinese medical researchers. The research team in Shenzhen established a clinical cohort study and used whole-genome amplification sequencing to trace the origins of the circulating monkeypox virus in the city, shedding light on the evolutionary path and features of the Clade IIb …

WHO confirms monkeypox spreads sexually in DR Congo amid outbreak
1 year, 1 month ago

WHO confirms monkeypox spreads sexually in DR Congo amid outbreak

Al Jazeera  

The health agency’s confirmation comes amid a monkeypox outbreak in the DRC and a concerning lack of vaccines in Africa. The World Health Organization said it has confirmed sexual transmission of monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the first time as the country’s experiences its biggest-ever outbreak, a worrying development that African scientists warn could make it more …

WHO declares monkeypox outbreak over - just as virus resurges in Chicago
1 year, 7 months ago

WHO declares monkeypox outbreak over - just as virus resurges in Chicago

Daily Mail  

The World Health Organization has declared the monkeypox global emergency over, just as this year's first cluster of cases emerges in America's third largest city. The data highlights an uptick after cases previously flatlining at one or none per week since December World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has declared an end to the emergency over mpox Mpox sparked …

Netherlands offers free monkeypox vaccinations to people at increased risk
1 year, 8 months ago

Netherlands offers free monkeypox vaccinations to people at increased risk

NL Times  

People who are more likely to contract monkeypox can get vaccinated for free from now on. "Gay and bisexual men and trans people who have not been vaccinated before and who know for themselves that they are more likely to contract a monkeypox infection can make an appointment with their GGD from today," Soa Aids Netherlands said on Monday, referring …

From COVID to mpox to polio: Our 9 most-read 'viral' stories in 2022
2 years, 1 month ago

From COVID to mpox to polio: Our 9 most-read 'viral' stories in 2022

NPR  

From COVID to mpox to polio: Our 9 most-read 'viral' stories in 2022 Enlarge this image toggle caption Uma Shankar Sharma/Getty Images and Science Source Uma Shankar Sharma/Getty Images and Science Source Even though the public's interest in the pandemic began to wane in its third year, COVID still grabbed the top spots for our most-read stories. Enlarge this image …

‘Substantial’ pre-symptomatic monkeypox spread found
2 years, 1 month ago

‘Substantial’ pre-symptomatic monkeypox spread found

The Hindu  

There is now more evidence for pre-symptomatic transmission of monkeypox virus. Pre-symptomatic transmission of monkeypox virus will mean that many infections cannot be prevented by simply isolating people showing symptoms. Detailed study The contact tracing study of 2,746 individuals who tested positive for the monkeypox virus in the U.K. between May 6 and August 1, 2022 has linked data on …

Monkeypox mutations making virus spread more rapidly and beat vaccines, experts warn
2 years, 2 months ago

Monkeypox mutations making virus spread more rapidly and beat vaccines, experts warn

The Independent  

A new mutation in the monkeypox virus is helping it spread and bypass vaccines, experts have warned. Senior researcher of the study, Shrikesh Sachdev, said: “The virus is getting smarter, it is able to avoid being targeted by drugs or antibodies from our body’s immune response and continue to spread to more people.” Monkeypox has infected more than 77,000 people …

Scientists find evidence of 'substantial' transmission of monkeypox before symptoms appear
2 years, 2 months ago

Scientists find evidence of 'substantial' transmission of monkeypox before symptoms appear

The Hindu  

Scientists have found evidence to show that the monkeypox virus can spread from an infected person up to four days before they even start exhibiting symptoms of the disease, a new study has claimed. The researchers behind the study estimated that 53% of the transmission of monkeypox occurred in this pre-symptomatic phase, meaning that many infections cannot be prevented by …

Monkeypox outbreak still an international health emergency, says WHO
2 years, 2 months ago

Monkeypox outbreak still an international health emergency, says WHO

Firstpost  

So far, more than 70,000 confirmed cases of Monkeypox have been reported in over 100 countries. Most cases have been reported among men Geneva: Monkeypox continues to meet the International Health Regulations criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, said the World Health Organisation on Tuesday. “The Emergency Committee acknowledged that some progress has been made in the …

Health officials concede monkeypox elimination unlikely in US
2 years, 3 months ago

Health officials concede monkeypox elimination unlikely in US

Firstpost  

The virus has mainly spread among gay and bisexual men, though health officials continue to stress that anyone can be infected. It’s important that people at risk take steps to prevent spread and that vaccination efforts continue New York: Some US health officials are conceding that monkeypox is probably not going away anytime soon. “There’s no clear path in our …

Some officials now say MPX elimination unlikely in U.S.
2 years, 3 months ago

Some officials now say MPX elimination unlikely in U.S.

LA Times  

A physician assistant prepares a syringe with the MPX vaccine. The disease’s spread is slowing in the U.S. but the virus is unlikely to be eliminated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Editor's Note: In light of widespread concerns that the name “monkeypox” is racist and stigmatizing, the World Health Organization has renamed the disease “mpox.” Lipsitch hesitated …

Some officials now say monkeypox elimination unlikely in US
2 years, 3 months ago

Some officials now say monkeypox elimination unlikely in US

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Some U.S. health officials are conceding that monkeypox is probably not going away anytime soon. “There’s no clear path in our mind to complete elimination domestically.” The virus has mainly spread among gay and bisexual men, though health officials continue to stress that anyone can be infected. It’s important that people at risk take steps to prevent …

China’s monkeypox advisory warns its citizens not to touch foreigners
2 years, 3 months ago

China’s monkeypox advisory warns its citizens not to touch foreigners

Hindustan Times  

BEIJING The Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has warned citizens not to touch foreigners after the first monkeypox case was detected on Friday in the southwestern city of Chongqing in China. Wu wrote that China’s Covid-19 restrictions on international travel and tight border checks had prevented the spread of monkeypox until the first case “slipped through the net”. …

Monkeypox Scare: US is probing second possible death from the virus
2 years, 3 months ago

Monkeypox Scare: US is probing second possible death from the virus

India TV News  

The Los Angeles County authorities in the US were looking into a second probable monkeypox-related death, media reports said. According to NBC News, Chief Medical Director Rita Singhal of the county's Public Health Department said details were unavailable at this early stage of the investigation. "This is one of two deaths in the US that are under investigation to determine …

New sub-lineages of monkeypox virus emerge
2 years, 4 months ago

New sub-lineages of monkeypox virus emerge

The Hindu  

Monkeypox was a neglected disease until early this year, with few reports on cases, and that too from travellers, though the disease was endemic in Central and Eastern Africa for many years. As of September 2022, over 50,000 cases of monkeypox virus infections have been reported from over 99 countries. Declining in Europe Despite an increase in the number of …

Texas records first US death from monkeypox
2 years, 4 months ago

Texas records first US death from monkeypox

Daily Mail  

How do you catch monkeypox? Until this worldwide outbreak, monkeypox was usually spread by infected rodents — including rats, mice and even squirrels — in west and central Africa. But when a case is suspected doctors send samples to their local health authorities to be tested for orthopox viruses — the family of viruses that includes monkeypox and smallpox. The …

Monkeypox is rare in children, but K-12 schools are preparing for possible cases
2 years, 4 months ago

Monkeypox is rare in children, but K-12 schools are preparing for possible cases

CNN  

CNN — An elementary student in Georgia has tested positive for monkeypox, raising questions about how concerned schools should be about the small risk of the virus spreading among children as they head back to class. Amid back-to-school season and an ongoing global outbreak of monkeypox, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasizes in guidance for K-12 schools …

Australian artist who contracted monkeypox overseas warns others to take the virus seriously
2 years, 4 months ago

Australian artist who contracted monkeypox overseas warns others to take the virus seriously

ABC  

An Australian who contracted monkeypox overseas has spoken out on social media as a warning for people not to treat the disease lightly, saying it caused them severe pain and emotional stress. Key points: Henry Boles contracted monkeypox after attending a party in Germany He has warned others to take the disease seriously More than 80 cases of monkeypox have …

Study shows monkeypox virus can stay on common household items: US govt
2 years, 4 months ago

Study shows monkeypox virus can stay on common household items: US govt

India Today  

A new study on monkeypox by the US disease control body Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that the virus can linger on many common household objects for several days despite regular disinfecting. The CDC suggested that people visiting the home of someone with monkeypox should protect themselves by wearing a well-fitting mask, avoiding touching possibly contaminated surfaces, maintaining …

Penn State University student tests positive for monkeypox
2 years, 4 months ago

Penn State University student tests positive for monkeypox

Daily Mail  

How do you catch monkeypox? Until this worldwide outbreak, monkeypox was usually spread by infected rodents — including rats, mice and even squirrels — in west and central Africa. But when a case is suspected doctors send samples to their local health authorities to be tested for orthopox viruses — the family of viruses that includes monkeypox and smallpox. The …

How monkeypox spreads
2 years, 4 months ago

How monkeypox spreads

NPR  

How monkeypox spreads Not repeating the mistakes of the past Enlarge this image Carlos Carmonamedina for NPR Public Editor Carlos Carmonamedina for NPR Public Editor Even if you've never read And The Band Played On, you know that many, many people died needlessly because of the mistakes made by politicians, public health officials and journalists during the first decade of …

Scientists’ big monkeypox fear: It will spread to wild animals and be here to stay
2 years, 4 months ago

Scientists’ big monkeypox fear: It will spread to wild animals and be here to stay

LA Times  

An urban rat emerges from its hole at a subway stop in New York City. “It’s certainly a possible scenario,” Rimoin said, “and the more opportunity the virus has to spread, the more it moves into the probable from the possible.” California Your monkeypox questions, answered How monkeypox spreads, how to get a vaccine and more: Your frequently asked questions …

Africa CDC says renaming of monkeypox variants curbs stigma
2 years, 4 months ago

Africa CDC says renaming of monkeypox variants curbs stigma

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The head of Africa's public …

There's a bit of good news about monkeypox. Is it because of the vaccine?
2 years, 4 months ago

There's a bit of good news about monkeypox. Is it because of the vaccine?

NPR  

There's a bit of good news about monkeypox. Sponsor Message Some health officials credit the monkeypox vaccine – and its quick rollout – as the key factor that's slowing the spread of the virus in the U.K. "Over 25,000 have been vaccinated with the smallpox vaccine, as part of the strategy to contain the monkeypox outbreak in the UK.," the …

Monkeypox can spread to pet dogs, doctors report
2 years, 4 months ago

Monkeypox can spread to pet dogs, doctors report

Hindustan Times  

Health officials are warning people who are infected with monkeypox to stay away from household pets, since the animals could be at risk of catching the virus. Monkeypox can spread to pet dogs, doctors report The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for months has had the advice in place as monkeypox spreads in the U.S. But it gained new …

Doctors identify first case of human-to-dog transmission of monkeypox
2 years, 4 months ago

Doctors identify first case of human-to-dog transmission of monkeypox

Firstpost  

Pets that come in close contact with a symptomatic person should be kept at home and away from other animals and people for 21 days after the most recent contact New York: Health officials are warning people who are infected with monkeypox to stay away from household pets, since the animals could be at risk of catching the virus. But …

Monkeypox update: Doctors warn infected people to stay away from household pets
2 years, 4 months ago

Monkeypox update: Doctors warn infected people to stay away from household pets

Live Mint  

Amid the spread of monkeypox cases in the United States, the health officials on 16 August warned infected people to stay away from household pets, since the animals could be at risk of catching the virus. The disease, which Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for months has had the advice in place as monkeypox spreads in the US, has …

Monkeypox can spread to pet dogs, doctors report
2 years, 4 months ago

Monkeypox can spread to pet dogs, doctors report

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Health officials are warning people who are infected with monkeypox to stay away from household pets, since the animals could be at risk of catching the virus. But it gained new attention after a report from France, published last week in the medical journal Lancet, about an Italian greyhound that caught the virus. But the authors called …

Why calling monkeypox an STD is about more than just a label
2 years, 4 months ago

Why calling monkeypox an STD is about more than just a label

CNN  

CNN — A hallmark of the ongoing monkeypox outbreak is that most cases have been linked to sexual activity, and this has prompted some debate around whether to describe the illness as a sexually transmitted disease. You can also get it through non-intimate contact.” David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, said he and his colleagues …

Italian greyhound belonging to gay couple in Paris catches monkeypox
2 years, 4 months ago

Italian greyhound belonging to gay couple in Paris catches monkeypox

Daily Mail  

How do you catch monkeypox? Until this worldwide outbreak, monkeypox was usually spread by infected rodents — including rats, mice and even squirrels — in west and central Africa. The UK Health Security Agency advises Britons to contact their sexual health clinic if they have a rash with blisters and have been in close contact with a suspected or confirmed …

WHO plans to rename monkeypox over stigmatization concerns
2 years, 4 months ago

WHO plans to rename monkeypox over stigmatization concerns

Associated Press  

LONDON — The World Health Organization says it’s holding an open forum to rename the disease monkeypox, after some critics raised concerns the name could be derogatory or have racist connotations. In a statement Friday, the U.N. health agency said it has also renamed two families, or clades, of the virus, using Roman numerals instead of geographic areas, to avoid …

Monkeypox: Global experts race to understand rare cases when virus leads to death
2 years, 4 months ago

Monkeypox: Global experts race to understand rare cases when virus leads to death

CNN  

CNN — Out of tens of thousands of monkeypox cases around the world this year, there have been a dozen deaths linked to the virus, and for the first time, some of them have been outside Africa, in countries where the virus doesn’t usually spread. In central Africa’s Congo Basin, McCollum says, about 11% of monkeypox cases are fatal, largely …

Africa CDC in ‘advanced’ talks to obtain monkeypox vaccines
2 years, 4 months ago

Africa CDC in ‘advanced’ talks to obtain monkeypox vaccines

Associated Press  

NAIROBI, Kenya — Africa’s public health agency says the continent of 1.3 billion people still does not have a single dose of the monkeypox vaccine, but “very advanced discussions” are underway with at least two partners. The acting director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ahmed Ogwell, told journalists on Thursday that he could not give details, …

Explained: Can the spread of monkeypox be stopped?
2 years, 4 months ago

Explained: Can the spread of monkeypox be stopped?

India Today  

Since May, nearly 90 countries have reported more than 31,000 cases of monkeypox. Except for Africa, there is no sign of sustained monkeypox transmission beyond men who have sex with men, meaning that stopping spread among that group could effectively end the outbreak. Last week, British scientists said there were “early signs” the monkeypox cases in the U.K. — which …

EXPLAINER: Can the spread of monkeypox be stopped?
2 years, 4 months ago

EXPLAINER: Can the spread of monkeypox be stopped?

Associated Press  

LONDON — Since May, nearly 90 countries have reported more than 31,000 cases of monkeypox. Last week, British scientists said there were “early signs” the monkeypox cases in the U.K. — which once had the world’s biggest outbreak outside Africa — had peaked. WHO’s Tedros recommended that men at risk of catching monkeypox consider making “safe choices” and reducing their …

Can the spread of monkeypox be stopped?
2 years, 4 months ago

Can the spread of monkeypox be stopped?

LA Times  

Since May, nearly 90 countries have reported monkeypox, totaling more than 31,000 cases. Last week, British scientists said there were “early signs” the monkeypox cases in the U.K. — which once had the world’s biggest outbreak outside Africa — had peaked. Tedros recommended that men at risk of catching monkeypox consider making “safe choices” and reducing their sexual partners “for …

This drug could help treat monkeypox. Some patients have struggled to get it
2 years, 4 months ago

This drug could help treat monkeypox. Some patients have struggled to get it

LA Times  

Joseph Cassara suffered gruesome lesions on his cheek and chin from monkeypox. In San Francisco, David Norman said his medical provider told him “we don’t have it.” He was instead prescribed the pain medication gabapentin and sent home to isolate. Some California patients have been frustrated by obstacles to getting the treatment: Another San Francisco resident, who asked not to …

With monkeypox in the news, why are people talking about smallpox?
2 years, 5 months ago

With monkeypox in the news, why are people talking about smallpox?

LA Times  

Why are we talking about smallpox again? And the global eradication of smallpox may have created an opening for monkeypox, said Peter Hotez, co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children’s Hospital and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine “Monkeypox is believed to have become more prevalent after we stopped vaccinating …

Monkeypox: A.2 strain found in Indian patients. Know the symptoms and treatment
2 years, 5 months ago

Monkeypox: A.2 strain found in Indian patients. Know the symptoms and treatment

India TV News  

Monkeypox cases have been reported in more than 90 countries to date. The most recent cases of Monkeypox infection in India were found to have the A.2 strain of monkeypox virus. A.2 strain of Monkeypox: Know all about it The A.2 strain of monkeypox virus was found in two Indian patients who returned to Kerala from UAE in early July. …

How does monkeypox spread? An expert explains why it isn’t an STI and what counts as close contact
2 years, 5 months ago

How does monkeypox spread? An expert explains why it isn’t an STI and what counts as close contact

Salon  

Monkeypox is caused by a virus that, despite periodic outbreaks, is not thought to spread easily from person to person and historically has not spurred long chains of transmission within communities. The monkeypox virus typically spreads through direct contact with respiratory secretions, such as mucus or saliva, or skin lesions. While sexual encounters are currently the predominant mode of transmission …

Sex, ‘casual contact,’ pimples: A California monkeypox guide, separating fact and fiction
2 years, 5 months ago

Sex, ‘casual contact,’ pimples: A California monkeypox guide, separating fact and fiction

LA Times  

With local, state and national officials declaring emergencies over the monkeypox outbreak and a scramble for vaccines spurring long lines — and waits — in many U.S. cities, the latest updates about the rare virus can seem overwhelming and, well, confusing. “No single individual or community is to blame for the spread of any virus,” said Dr. Tomás Aragón, California’s …

Monkeypox is disproportionately affecting Black, Hispanic people, latest CDC breakdown shows
2 years, 5 months ago

Monkeypox is disproportionately affecting Black, Hispanic people, latest CDC breakdown shows

CNN  

CNN — A detailed analysis of monkeypox case records published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday offers new insight into the outbreak, which is disproportionately affecting men who have sex with men, especially those who are Black and Hispanic. Among the cases with available data, 94% were in men who reported recent sexual or close …

Monkeypox: The myths, misconceptions — and facts — about how you catch it
2 years, 5 months ago

Monkeypox: The myths, misconceptions — and facts — about how you catch it

NPR  

Monkeypox: The myths, misconceptions — and facts — about how you catch it Enlarge this image toggle caption Eduardo Munoz/REUTERS Eduardo Munoz/REUTERS The monkeypox outbreak has grown rapidly in the U.S. Back in early July, the country had only about 500 cases. But multiple lines of evidence indicate that, during this outbreak, the primary way the virus is spreading is …

Will monkeypox become a pandemic?
2 years, 5 months ago

Will monkeypox become a pandemic?

Slate  

This story originally appeared on OpenMind, a digital magazine tackling science controversies and deceptions. But the Black Death, uniquely virulent and transmissible, burned across Europe, eastern and central Asia, the Muslim world, North Africa, and Russia for seven years. Ebola, a deadly virus spread by exposure to blood and other bodily fluids, isn’t a pandemic threat because it doesn’t have …

Africa CDC says gay sex ‘not relevant’ in monkeypox there
2 years, 5 months ago

Africa CDC says gay sex ‘not relevant’ in monkeypox there

Associated Press  

NAIROBI, Kenya — Africa’s public health agency says it doesn’t know how many of the continent’s reported monkeypox cases this year are in men who have sex with men, and it warned Thursday against “any stigmatization” that might delay case reporting and affect the outbreak response. Ogwell said health officials in Africa have collected data on monkeypox since 1970 and …

Monkeypox Originated in Animals. Could It Spill Back Into Them?
2 years, 5 months ago

Monkeypox Originated in Animals. Could It Spill Back Into Them?

Wired  

Two months into the international monkeypox epidemic, which so far has caused almost 6,000 infections in the United States and more than 18,000 cases worldwide, it may be old news to say that this disease has visited the US before. But it’s enough of a worry that virologists are talking about the possibility of new host species in new territory—spread …

Third-generation monkeypox vaccines secured, with gay and bisexual men in 'high-risk' categories targeted for first rollout
2 years, 5 months ago

Third-generation monkeypox vaccines secured, with gay and bisexual men in 'high-risk' categories targeted for first rollout

ABC  

The Australian government has secured 450,000 third-generation vaccines for monkeypox in what it described as a "highly contested" global market for the jabs. Key points: The first 22,000 doses of the vaccine will arrive in Australia this week and next week There are 58 cases in Australia, but health authorities say they are confident it will be controlled with the …

Can monkeypox spread like Covid-19? Who is at higher risk? Expert explains
2 years, 5 months ago

Can monkeypox spread like Covid-19? Who is at higher risk? Expert explains

Live Mint  

The World Health Organisation has declared monkeypox as a global emergency as more than 75 countries where the virus is not endemic have reported outbreaks of the viral disease. The stages of monkeypox symptoms Rashes and the development of nodes in several areas of the body are the two main symptoms that set this viral infection apart from others. Severity, …

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