Is monkeypox going to be the next pandemic? Here’s what MS residents should know
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared “a public health emergency of international concern” regarding an outbreak of mpox (monkeypox).
While the outbreak is limited to African countries, the news is still concerning for a lot of Americans. So, we’ve made a list of questions you might have and researched the answers. Here’s what to know.
Is monkeypox in the U.S.?
The WHO reported seeing an “upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing number of countries in Africa,” but the disease is not currently in the United States.
According to the CDC, the risk for monkeypox in the United States is low because there are limited travelers and no direct commercial flights to the main risk areas. While the WHO and CDC think the disease is unlikely to come to the U.S., the risk could change when more information, such as case numbers and severity, are available.
Is monkeypox going to be the next pandemic?
This is very unlikely to happen.
Firstly, pandemics (like the swine flu and COVID-19) are airborne viruses that spread rapidly. In addition, these viruses can be spread by people with no symptoms.
Monkeypox is spread by sexual intercourse, skin-to-skin contact, contact with a person’s saliva or from a pregnant mother to fetus. The disease can also be spread by touching or using the same objects or fabrics (sex toys, clothing, bedding, etc.) as an infected person before being washed and disinfected.
Though the spread of monkeypox is unlikely to make its way to pandemic status, the WHO is still taking precautions to ensure international safety.
“The current upsurge of mpox in parts of Africa, along with the spread of a new sexually transmissible strain of the monkeypox virus, is an emergency, not only for Africa, but for the entire globe,” said Dimie Ogoina, WHO committee chair professor. “Mpox, originating in Africa, was neglected there, and later caused a global outbreak in 2022. It is time to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself.”
WHO experts are actively working on more funding to support surveillance, preparedness and response activities as well as rolling out vaccines to those at risk.
Is monkeypox fatal?
Overall, “Between 0.1% and 10% of people who have become infected with mpox, have died,” said United Nations experts.
However, most deaths occur because of certain risk factors like HIV, access to healthcare and more. Pregnant people, babies and people with weakened immune systems also have a higher risk when contracting monkeypox.
Can you get monkeypox if you are vaccinated?
Yes, you can still get it. Here’s what the CDC says:
“No vaccine is 100% effective, so in rare cases (less than 1 percent), people who have been fully vaccinated with both doses do get mpox. If someone who got both doses of the mpox vaccine does get mpox, infections are usually much milder.”
A vaccine is recommended for those at risk, which includes:
If you have certain risk factors that make you able to get the mpox vaccine and you’ve never had mpox
If you only received one dose, it’s never too late to get the second dose
If you have one or more sexually transmitted infections (within the last six months)
If you have more than one sexual partner, or anonymous sexual or intimate contact
If you’ve had sex at a commercial sex venue
If you had sex in association with a large public event in a geographic area where mpox transmission is occurring
Can you get monkeypox from a toilet seat?
It’s possible, but for now, experts are confident that monkeypox isn’t currently spreading this way. Rather, its been spreading from close contact such as sexual or skin-to-skin.
“Catching the virus from a toilet seat or linens is an issue only for those in close, constant contact with someone who is actively infected, such as a household member,” said Ben-Aderet, MD, associate director of Hospital Epidemiology at Cedars-Sinai.
Do you have more questions? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com
