MONKEYPOX CASES IN THE US: WHERE COULD IT SPREAD NEXT?

In an effort to strengthen its response to the outbreak, the US designated monkeypox, monkeypox symptoms a public health emergency.

The monkeypox virus is still mostly transmitted by homosexual and bisexual males. But owing to monkeypox vaccination shortages, researchers fear the disease may spread to other communities. Monkeypox is seldom lethal and spreads by contact with pus-filled lesions.

WHO IS CURRENTLY GETTING MONKEYPOX?

The World Health Organization designated monkeypox as a worldwide public health emergency last month. A Reuters count shows that 26,500 monkeypox cases have been documented thus far in 80 countries where the virus is not prevalent.

According to a technical study by the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of July 25, 99.1% of monkeypox cases in the country affected people who were born with the male sex (CDC). Ninety-nine percent of the male patients said they had intercourse with other guys.

White, non-Hispanic men made up around 38% of the cases. Male Blacks made up another 26% of the population, while male Hispanics made up 32%.

There is no biological explanation,  why the monkeypox virus will continue to be mostly contained to the community of males, who have sex with men. 

The director of the Cornell Center for Pandemic Prevention and Response, Dr. Jay Varma, stated that it is "clearly known that it will spread to family members and to other non-male partners that individuals have."

He said that the key question is whether it spreads as quickly in such groups as it does among intimate male networks.

College residence halls, fitness clubs, and sports teams are some more risky environments.

The CDC reports that MRSA epidemics have previously affected teams playing football, rugby, wrestling, and other sports.

Employers could also have to start getting ready. Grounder claimed that certain theatres in New York, are thinking about how to shield their staff from potential monkeypox illnesses by sharing costumes.