Scattered outbreaks of monkeypox cases have been raising alarm, and there are plenty of questions about how people can protect themselves.
More than 250 cases of monkeypox were detected across 16 countries as of May 22, according to the World Health Organization. Dozens more are still under review, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The United States has one confirmed case so far this year, although the CDC is monitoring four other suspected cases. While health experts are concerned about these cases, officials from the WHO and the CDC have also said that “this is not COVID,” and these monkeypox outbreaks can be contained.
“We need to slow it down, but it does not spread in the air and we have vaccines to protect against it,” said Dr. David Heymann, a leading WHO adviser.
The U.S. plans to release the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine, made by Bavarian Nordic
BVNKF,
from its national stockpile to help prevent the virus from spreading. The CDC says there are more 1,000 doses available, and they expect that number to ramp up very quickly in the coming weeks.
Here is what else you need to know about monkeypox.
What is monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a rare viral disease that occurs mostly in central and western Africa, and was first identified in lab monkeys. It originated from wild animals like rodents and non-human primates (such as its namesake, monkeys), according to the CDC website, and it is part of the same virus genus as smallpox.
What are the monkeypox symptoms to look out for?
The symptoms are similar to smallpox, but milder. Most monkeypox patients experience minor flu-like symptoms such as fever, body aches, chills and fatigue, while those with more serious cases could also develop rashes or other skin abrasions, which can include fluid-filled bumps, or pox.
Most people recover within about two to four weeks without needing to be hospitalized. Monkeypox can be fatal for 3% to 6% of cases, however, and it is thought to be more severe in children, according to the World Health Organization.
There is still little information on any asymptomatic infections of monkeypox.
How is monkeypox spread?
Monkeypox transmission occurs when a person encounters the virus through close contact with another human, an animal, or items that could be contaminated with body fluids carrying the disease.
“Animal-to-human transmission may occur by bite or scratch, bush meat preparation, direct contact with body fluids or lesion material, or indirect contact with lesion material, such as through contaminated bedding,” the CDC website noted.
“Human-to-human transmission is thought to occur primarily through large respiratory droplets. Respiratory droplets generally cannot travel more than a few feet, so prolonged face-to-face contact is required,” the CDC adds. “Other human-to-human methods of transmission include direct contact with body fluids or lesion material, and indirect contact with lesion material, such as through contaminated clothing or linens.”
While this disease can be spread through various forms of sex, similar to many viral infections like the common cold or the flu, the CDC has stated that monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease like HIV or hepatitis.
Is monkeypox related to smallpox?
The monkeypox virus belongs to a subset of the Poxviridae family of viruses called Orthopoxvirus, and that subset of viruses also includes smallpox, vaccinia and cowpox viruses.
All of the above viruses in the Poxviridae family often can lead to “pox”-like symptoms like rashes, pimples and other lesions on the skin.
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Additionally, the WHO says monkeypox is “clinically less severe” than smallpox.
Can monkeypox be cured or treated?
There is currently no form of proven, safe treatment for the monkeypox virus, the CDC says, but there are vaccines that help prevent monkeypox infections.
Where has monkeypox been reported in the U.S.?
U.S. monkeypox cases are very rare, according to the CDC.
There has been one confirmed case in the country so far in 2022: a Massachusetts man who recently traveled to Canada. There are also four suspected cases that the CDC is investigating, including one in New York City, one in Florida and two in Utah.
Last November, the Maryland department of health and the CDC confirmed a case of monkeypox in November from a U.S. resident who had recently returned from Nigeria. That person presented with mild symptom, and was not hospitalized. In July, the CDC and the Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed a case of monkeypox from a U.S. citizen who traveled from Nigeria.
Who is eligible for a monkeypox vaccine?
Jynneos (also known by the brand names Imvamune or Imvanex) has been licensed in the United States to prevent monkeypox and smallpox. The U.S. has 1,000 doses of the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine in its national stockpile, and also has 100 million doses of the older smallpox vaccine, which could potentially be used.
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But the Jynneos vaccine, given as two doses four weeks apart, is being reserved for health-care workers and people who have been exposed to monkeypox, and is not intended to be a mass vaccination effort. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s emerging diseases and zoonoses lead, and technical lead on COVID-19, said in a Q&A, “We will be making recommendations on who should be prioritized for this” soon.
“Right now we are hoping to maximize vaccine distribution to those that we know would benefit from it,” Captain Jennifer McQuiston, deputy director of the CDC’s High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology Division, told Reuters. “So those are people who’ve had contact with known monkeypox patients, health care workers, very close personal contacts, and those in particular who might be at high risk for severe disease.”
Since the monkeypox virus is closely related to the virus that causes smallpox, smallpox vaccines can also protect people from getting monkeypox. The original smallpox vaccine, ACAM2000, was shown to be about 85% effective in preventing monkeypox, although there were some serious side effects. In fact, roughly half of all Americans have some immunity against monkeypox because they were vaccinated against smallpox, although smallpox vaccinations mostly ended in 1972, after the disease was eradicated in the country.
What are the U.S. and President Biden doing about Monkeypox?
President Joe Biden said that the monkeypox disease is a “concern in that if it were to spread it would be consequential.” But Biden has not yet publicly commented on any detailed U.S. plan for vaccinations against monkeypox, should they be necessary.
Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, recently told reporters, “we have vaccine available to be deployed for that purpose.” Sullivan added that the president is getting regular updates on the outbreak.