All articles tagged with #monkeypox
UK health officials are urging at-risk groups, especially men who have sex with men, to get vaccinated against mpox as cases of the 'clade Ib' strain are emerging in Spain, Italy, Portugal, and the Netherlands, with concerns about local transmission and the importance of vaccination before events like Winter Pride.
An inmate at Bexar County jail is being treated for monkeypox at a hospital, with authorities monitoring potential exposure risks; the virus is not airborne and spreads through contact with lesions.
Two Californians have been diagnosed with a new strain of mpox, potentially indicating local transmission, but the risk to the public remains low; health officials are investigating further amid concerns about community spread.
The Washington State Department of Health and the University of Washington detected the clade I mpox (monkeypox) virus in Pierce County wastewater, prompting increased testing and vigilance, though no local cases have been reported. The virus spreads through close contact, and public health officials emphasize monitoring symptoms and vaccination for high-risk groups, with the risk considered low at present.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has inexplicably reverted to using the outdated name 'monkeypox' for the disease, despite global health organizations like WHO and scientific consensus advocating for the use of 'mpox' to avoid stigmatization and reflect current understanding of the virus's hosts. The reason for this reversal remains unclear, but it appears to be a politically motivated or unproductive move.
The U.S. is reverting to the term 'monkeypox' after previously adopting 'mpox' in 2022 to reduce stigma and address animal transmission misconceptions, but experts question this reversal as it may cause confusion and appears politically motivated.
A patient in California has become the first in the US to be infected with the more deadly Clade I strain of monkeypox, which has a fatality rate of up to 10%. The patient, who recently returned from East Africa, is recovering at home in isolation. The CDC states the public risk is low as the disease spreads through direct contact. The Clade I strain is more severe than the Clade II strain, which has been circulating in the US since 2022. Efforts to control the outbreak include vaccination campaigns, particularly targeting high-risk groups.
The first U.S. case of a more severe strain of monkeypox, known as clade 1, has been confirmed in California. The patient, who recently traveled to Eastern Africa, is isolated at home with mild symptoms. Health officials, in collaboration with the CDC, are conducting contact tracing, though the public risk is considered very low. This strain, which emerged in the eastern Congo, spreads through close contact and has been reported in several countries. No deaths have been reported from this strain, and typical symptoms include fever, rash, and lesions.
Scientists have discovered a new strain of monkeypox, officially known as mpox, with "pandemic potential" in a mining town in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The mutated version, named "clade 1b", is thought to be better at spreading and has raised concerns about the potential for national and international spread. Health ministers have called for swift action to avert another global outbreak, as the virus has a history of causing mild illness but can lead to serious cases and has already resulted in deaths.
A mutant strain of monkeypox with "pandemic potential" has been discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo, specifically in the town of Kamituga. This new strain, named "clade 1b," is more infectious and better at evading tests than its predecessor, and has already resulted in 108 cases and two deaths. Researchers are calling for urgent measures to contain the virus and prevent a global outbreak, as the highly mobile population of Kamituga, including miners and sex workers, could facilitate its spread. The virus is believed to have emerged in animals and then jumped to humans, particularly affecting sex workers. The international community is urged to roll out vaccines, drugs, and heightened surveillance and contact tracing measures to address the situation.
Wake County Public Health officials are urging people at risk for monkeypox to get vaccinated, as three new cases have been reported in the area. The JYNNEOS vaccine is available for free at the Wake County Public Health Center, with walk-in and appointment-only services offered. Monkeypox symptoms include flu-like symptoms and a rash, and the CDC recommends vaccination for those with potential exposure or specific risk factors.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning about a deadly and fast-spreading strain of the monkeypox virus, which has a mortality rate of up to 10%. The variant, known as Clade I, has been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with 22 out of 26 provinces affected. Last year, a less-deadly variant, Clade II, caused an outbreak in the US, resulting in over 31,000 cases and 55 deaths. The CDC is urging doctors to be vigilant for symptoms of the disease, which can spread through close contact or in healthcare settings. Vaccination coverage in the US is low, with only one in four eligible individuals receiving both doses of the vaccine.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called on doctors and health departments to enhance surveillance for a more infectious and severe strain of the virus that causes monkeypox, which is spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The CDC has issued a Travel Health Notice for individuals traveling to the DRC, advising them to minimize contact with the ill, avoid wild animals, and refrain from consuming wild game. The clade I monkeypox virus is more contagious and causes more severe infections than the clade II strain associated with the recent global outbreak. The CDC urges clinicians to consider monkeypox when evaluating rashes and to investigate further if patients have swollen lymph nodes or recent travel to the DRC. The agency also emphasizes the importance of timely specimen collection and testing, as well as low vaccination coverage in the US.
Health officials in Idaho have reported seven cases of mpox, a rare disease formerly known as monkeypox, in residents of southwestern Idaho. Six cases were reported in Ada County, with three of the four cases reported this week having no recent travel history. A man in Canyon County also contracted mpox, and it is unclear how he was infected. Mpox is a milder and rarely fatal disease related to smallpox, spread through direct contact with an infected person or contaminated objects. Symptoms include a rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle aches. Health officials recommend seeking medical attention, getting tested, and taking preventive measures such as vaccination and avoiding close contact with infected individuals.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the sexual transmission of monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for the first time, amid the country's largest-ever outbreak. A resident of Belgium, who identified as a man having sexual relations with other men, tested positive for monkeypox after visiting underground clubs for gay and bisexual men in the DRC. Five of his sexual contacts also tested positive for the disease. This confirmation raises concerns about the disease spreading widely among sexual networks and highlights the lack of vaccines in Africa. The outbreak in the DRC has infected over 12,500 people and killed about 580, with the disease being identified in the capital city of Kinshasa and the conflict-ridden province of South Kivu for the first time. African scientists warn that the virus is likely spreading in other parts of Africa, but is being hidden due to anti-LGBTQ+ laws and limited disease surveillance. The WHO emphasizes the significant risk of monkeypox spreading to other countries and calls for increased attention and action to address the outbreak.