It was not that long ago when politicians and scientists alike dismissed the seriousness of the evergrowing COVID-19 strain until the virus became a worldwide health crisis during the early part of 2020. So, as the threat of monkeypox continues to increase with new cases on a weekly basis, health officials stateside are being a lot more cautious and forthright with the public in terms of their concern for the manner in which the virus may spread. In fact, amid reports that nearly 2,400 cases of monkeypox have emerged in the United States, some health officials have recently indicated that the virus may develop into an STD comparable to herpes, HIV, and gonorrhea; because in addition to being transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, it has also been spreading rapidly through sex.
As of now, U.S. health officials do not have enough information to accurately predict the ways that people are spreading monkeypox inadvertently or how fast the virus can propagate. This has made it all the more difficult to determine whether or not a vaccine would work in the event of another global pandemic. Studies suggest that the U.S. could see an uptick in monkeypox cases this Summer ranging anywhere from 13,000 people to well over 100,000. Nevertheless, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention insists that the government is fully prepared and ready to handle a potential outbreak.
“I think we still have an opportunity to contain this,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky.
Although the symptoms, which include lesions, body aches, chills, and bumps all over the body, have been described as extremely painful, no U.S. citizens have passed away due to the contraction of monkeypox (while stateside).
Source: ABC News
