Mpox, formerly called Monkeypox

https://www.mass.gov/news/massachusetts-public-health-officials-confirm-case-of-monkeypox

https://www.statnews.com/2022/05/18...ypox-cases-raising-specter-of-wider-outbreak/

 

Ed Yong has just released an article which is paywalled, but he's written a Twitter summary:

 

Continued:

 

Why is monkeypox spreading at an accelerated rate now?

I've read that the initial genomic analysis suggests that the increased transmission of the monkeypox virus is not due to mutations of the virus. Is SARS-2 causing immune suppression that favors transmission of the monkeypox virus?

 

It would seem to be awfully coincidental if it wasn't connected somehow.

 

https://twitter.com/user/status/1528833592532541443

 

When I first heard about monkeypox recently, I thought, really? Are worries about climate change, pandemics, racism, misogyny, gun violence, the toppling of democracies, and inflation not enough? Must we also deal with a new catastrophe? My anxiety closet is already bulging.

But from what I've read, there isn't a lot to worry about presently although we need to keep informed about the current monkeypox cases amid questions about its transmission. I was relieved to read that the smallpox vaccine many of us had as children offers a good bit of protection since it lasts a long time. But I do wonder how long. The article I read said people have good antibodies even 50 years later. I had my smallpox vaccine longer ago than that.

It is reassuring that the U.S. has so much smallpox vaccine stockpiled, but there would need to be plenty around the world if smallpox vaccines for monkeypox were recommended.

 

Some people seem to be concerned that this might be a new pandemic, following on from Covid-19. I'm not, but am I the only one being uncomfortably reminded of the (apparent?) start of the AIDS epidemic?

 

I really hope that monkeypox does not become an excuse to further stigmatize the gay community. From what I've read, the transmission of these recent cases is thought to be from close contact, such as when people have sex. It's not conclusive that's it's being transmitted by gay sex.

 

Quite. Although a significant number of the cases do appear to have been in that community, at least in the initial stages. Not sure what the situation is now.

 

W.H.O. Declares Monkeypox Spread a Global Health Emergency

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/23/health/monkeypox-pandemic-who.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur

 

Also reading that there are several outbreaks of Polio in Pakistan and first case in the U.S in over a decade.

 

Merged thread

New UK research consortium to tackle monkeypox outbreak

The UK’s efforts to tackle the monkeypox outbreak will receive a £2 million boost with the creation of a new research consortium.

The consortium
The consortium will work together to develop better diagnostic tests, identify potential therapies and study vaccine effectiveness and the virus’ spread.

The consortium brings together 25 leading researchers and scientists from 12 institutions across the UK. It has received £2 million from the Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC), both part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The consortium is led by The Pirbright Institute and the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research.

The researchers at institutes and universities will work closely with experts at government agencies to study the current outbreak and inform the public health response in the UK and internationally. These agencies include:

• Animal and Plant Health Agency
• UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
• Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl)

https://www.ukri.org/news/new-uk-research-consortium-to-tackle-monkeypox-outbreak/

 

"Up to 16 September 2022, there were 3,439 confirmed and 146 highly probable monkeypox cases in the UK: 3,585 in total. Of these, 93 were in Scotland, 34 were in Northern Ireland, 46 were in Wales and 3,412 were in England."

https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...ak-epidemiological-overview-20-september-2022

 

Merged thread

Mpox declared a global health emergency by WHO

Mpox outbreak fears as deadly virus spread through close contact kills 450 (msn.com)

 

Judging from the precedent we recently set: I guess it's time to learn to live with mpox.

 

Five countries tighten border screening as new mpox variant spreads

Five countries tighten border screening as new mpox variant spreads (msn.com)

 

I fear that will also be true with bird flu. It could already be too late to prevent human-to-human transmission.

 

Merged thread

Man tests positive for monkeypox, COVID and HIV after holiday to Spain

A 36-year-old patient in Italy returned from holiday in Spain and later presented with a series of symptoms that led doctors to carry out a series of tests. They found he was the first patient so far discovered to have COVID, monkeypox and HIV.

LINK