Monkeypox: The symptoms of monkeypox are similar to smallpox but are much less severe.
Washington:
The United States is preparing to give the monkeypox vaccine to close contact with infected people and is deploying treatment, five cases are now confirmed or possible and the number could increase, officials said Monday.
A U.S. infection has been confirmed in Massachusetts so far, and there are four more cases of people infected with the orthopoxivirus – a family that belongs to the monkeypox, senior officials at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention said in a press briefing.
All of the suspected cases are believed to be monkeypox, with confirmation pending examination at CDC headquarters, said Jennifer McQueston, deputy director of the Department of Pathogens and Pathology at High Results.
One orthopoxvirus case in New York, one in Florida and two in Utah. Those who have been infected so far in the United States are all men with relevant travel histories.
The genetic sequencing in the Massachusetts case is similar to that of a patient in Portugal, and it belongs to the West African strain, the light between the two monkeypox strains.
Monkeypox has smallpox-like symptoms but is much less severe, with most people recovering within a week.
“Right now we’re hoping that the vaccine delivery will be maximized for those we know,” McQueston said.
“These are people who have had contact with known monkeypox patients, healthcare workers, very close personal contacts and especially those who may be at high risk for serious illness.”
The risk of becoming immunocompromised is high
In terms of supply, there are approximately one thousand doses of JYNNEOS in the United States, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved vaccine for smallpox and monkeypox. ” McQueston says.
It contains about 100 million doses of an older generation vaccine, ACAM2000.
Both use live viruses but only JYNNEOS non-replicas, making it a safer alternative, McQueston said.
People with special skin conditions, including immunocompromised or eczema, are at greater risk, added John Brooks, a medical epidemiologist.
Infection with monkeypox can occur through close skin-to-skin contact with someone who has an active rash, or who has a sore on the face and who has been around another person for long periods of time.
The virus causes rashes, focuses on skin lesions, or spreads more widely. In some cases, in the early stages, rashes may begin in the genital or perianal area.
Although scientists are concerned that the growing number of cases worldwide could potentially indicate a new type of infection, there is still no hard evidence to support that theory, McQueston said.
Instead, the increase in cases may be associated with specific spreader events, such as the recent rev in Europe which may explain the higher trend among gay and bisexual men.
But, Brooks warned, “there is no current risk for the gay and bisexual community to come into contact with the exclusive monkeypox.”
The CDC is also developing treatment guidelines to allow the placement of antiviral tecovirimet and brinsidofovir, both licensed for smallpox.
(This story was not edited by NDTV staff and was automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
