CDC warns of monkeypox as global cases exceed 1,000

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stepped up its monkeypox guidance, urging people to take extra precautions as global cases of the virus surpass 1,000.

CDC expands its Level 2. alerts for On Monday, encouraging people to “practice increased precautions” to contain the outbreak, which has spread to 29 non-native countries over the past month. The highest level of alert – Level 3 – will alert for non-essential travel.

While the public health body said the risk to the general public remains low, the heightened alert encourages people to avoid close contact with sick people, including those with skin or genital sores, as well as sick or dead animals. Huh. It also urges people who display symptoms of the virus, such as a unexplained skin rash or soresTo avoid contact with others and to reach out to your health care provider for guidance.

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, with symptoms including a rash, Fever, headache, muscle aches, swelling and back pain,

It is usually endemic to Central and West African countries, but recent outbreaks in North America, Europe and Australia have confused health professionals and raised fears of community spread.

As of Monday, there have been 1,019 confirmed and suspected cases of monkeypox in 29 countries. According to the CDC. Britain has so far recorded the highest number of cases of 302 suspected and confirmed infections. It is followed by Spain with 198, Portugal with 153 and Canada with 80.

Health experts are searching for clues as to the source of the outbreak, which has historically been linked to travel from endemic countries. World Health Organization’s technical lead for monkeypox said on Wednesday That the virus could have been transmitted undetected within non-endemic countries for “weeks, months, or possibly even a few years”.

Although, CDC said on Friday That at least two genetically distinct monkeypox variants are currently circulating in the US, adding to the confusion of health experts. A total of 30 cases of the virus have been reported in America so far.

Jennifer McQuiston, deputy director of the CDC’s High Consequences Pathogens and Pathology Division, said at Friday’s press briefing of the two types, “Although they are very similar to each other, their genetic analysis suggests they are linked to each other.” are not.” ,

McQuiston said it’s likely the two strains stemmed from two separate instances where the virus spread from animals to humans in Africa before spreading through person-to-person contact.

Professor Eyal Leshem, an infectious disease specialist at Sheba Medical Center in Israel, told CNBC on Monday that the spread of the virus to non-endemic countries was surprising given the frequency and ease of international travel, as well as the increasing interactions between humans and animals.

“Diseases that were locally spread are now able to make their way across countries and continents more easily,” Leshem said.

“Meanwhile, interactions between humans and animals have also increased. With climate change forcing some animals into closer contact with humans, you’ll see more of these types of diseases.”

Although most cases of monkeypox are mild, they usually resolve within two to four weeks. America said on Monday That she has 36,000 doses of a suitable vaccine that she is sending to people who have high-risk exposure to the virus. some European countries, including UK And Spainhas announced similar measures to contain the spread of the disease.

Monkeypox is not considered a sexually transmitted disease, although by far the majority of cases are spread through sex, and especially men having sex with menAccording to the CDC.

—This story has been updated that CDC has removed guidance on its website for travelers to wear face masks.