Two hundred people in Massachusetts were screened for monkeypox after contacting the unnamed man, the state’s first confirmed case, last week, a health official said Monday.
Dr. Jennifer McQuiston, deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said most of the people exposed were healthcare workers, but some had “personal” contacts with patients.
However, he added that many contacts are often negative, adding that it is difficult to spread monkeypox as it often requires prolonged physical contact.
The infectious disease specialist explained the count at a briefing this afternoon, where he also warned that the virus could spread undetected for months.
During the briefing, experts also warned that most recent patients had infectious skin lesions in the genital area, which could be mistaken for a severe case of herpes.
America currently has one confirmed case and four suspected West African-specific disease in the global pandemic, all male and linked to international travel. There are more than 100 cases in the world, especially in Europe.
Massachusetts has become the first US state to infect a man in his forties who recently drove from Canada. Florida, New York, and Utah are also investigating possible infections.
Health leaders are alarmed, saying the disproportionate number of cases between gay and bisexual men could be due to sex between people.
European health leaders warn that the virus could become endemic to the continent if cases are not found soon. Many of them have nothing to do with traveling there.
The outbreak has now spread to 16 countries, with Argentina and Greece now the 17th and 18th countries, which have announced they are investigating suspected cases.
Dr. Jennifer McQuiston, an infectious disease specialist at the CDC, explained that about 200 people in Massachusetts have been screened for the virus. Dr John Brooks, a CDC medical epidemiologist, said many cases are confused with herpes.
Asked about the situation in Massachusetts, McQuiston said, “They hear there are more than 200 contacts there, but the vast majority are healthcare professionals.
“However, there are also personal contacts.”
But to allay fears, he added: “Previous attempts have shown that this is not an easily transmitted virus.
“Of the nine travel-related cases leaving Nigeria and the numerous contacts tracked, we are not aware of any cases of monkeypox that have spread there.”
McQuiston did not elaborate on how many people were being watched in other states.
Health chiefs in Utah say there is no “risk” of spreading the virus to others, while in New York, any contact with an infected person is followed by negative tests. It’s unclear how many people watched in Florida.
Earlier this month, seven people were screened for infections after sitting in three rows of a case on a May 4 flight from Nigeria to the UK. No positive tests were reported by the group.
When asked how long the virus has been spreading, he said: “It’s been around for a few weeks, maybe a few months, but we’re still in the early stages before we know more.”
Health leaders believe the virus is primarily spread through sexual contact with infectious lesions in the genital area.
Dr. John Brooks, a CDC medical epidemiologist, warned that these are often confused with other illnesses, such as herpes.
In one case, it revealed that a person only thought they had a severe case of herpes before going to the doctor.
It can also be transmitted through the air – injuries to the throat or mouth allow droplets to infect – but this is not the primary route of transmission.
People at risk of contracting the virus are given the Jynneous brand smallpox vaccine, which also works against monkeypox.
A nationwide supply of at least 1,000 doses is available with patients taking two doses four weeks apart. It aims to strengthen the immune system so that it can prevent a possible infection.
Most people who get the virus develop mild symptoms and get better on their own within two to four weeks.
But some cases can develop into a serious illness with the death of about one in 100 infected people.
An outbreak is currently linked to a Gay Pride festival attended by 80,000 people in Gran Canaria, Spain, and a fetish event in Antwerp, Belgium.
Some cases have been traced back to a “sauna” in Spain, which is an informal term in the country for a place where men meet to have sex with men.
World Health Organization leaders said today that the main theory is the spread of the virus due to unprotected sex in mass events.
Dr. David Heymann, the agency’s infectious disease specialist, said: “What’s happening right now is that, as a sexual form, it has entered the population as a genital form and is spreading like sexually transmitted infections around the world. “powered world.
“We know that monkeypox can be spread by close contact with the wounds of an infected person, and sexual contact seems to have cured this transmission.”
This is a significant deviation from the normal mode of transmission of monkeypox through contact with infected animals.
It came after President Joe Biden tried to reassure Americans about the monkeypox epidemic by saying that vaccines and treatments are available.
In a different tone than yesterday, “everyone” should be concerned about the spread of the virus.
Dr. White House Covid Response Coordinator Ashish Jha warned the US to prepare for more cases of monkeypox in the near future.
Source: Daily Mail
I am Anne Johnson and I work as an author at the Fashion Vibes. My main area of expertise is beauty related news, but I also have experience in covering other types of stories like entertainment, lifestyle, and health topics. With my years of experience in writing for various publications, I have built strong relationships with many industry insiders. My passion for journalism has enabled me to stay on top of the latest trends and changes in the world of beauty.
.png "Two new Daredevil videos: Born Again include Behind the Scenes Featurette who details how that shocking ending was made")
