"What Is Monkeypox, The Rare Virus Now Confirmed In The U.S. And Europe?"

"As monkeypox cases rise in Europe and other parts of the globe, health authorities are expressing concern about the unusual uptick but also pointing out that the virus is far less transmissible than the coronavirus that upended the world.

The World Health Organization has confirmed 92 cases across 11 countries, mostly in Europe but also in the United States and Canada. Several dozen more monkeypox cases are being examined globally but have not yet been confirmed, according to a data tracker compiled by a collective of global health researchers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert Friday urging doctors and state health departments to be vigilant.

Monkeypox, which can be passed to animals and humans, is usually found in Central and West Africa. But many of the recent cases in the United Kingdom, France and elsewhere have no travel links to a place where monkeypox is regularly found, according to officials, suggesting the virus may be spreading through the community. A case in Massachusetts is the first infection identified in the United States this year; New York City health officials said Friday that two patients were tested and one had tested positive for orthopoxvirus, the family of viruses to which monkeypox belongs. The Broward County, Fla., Health Department said Sunday that it was investigating a presumptive monkeypox infection and was working to notify people who may have been exposed to the potentially infected person."

Meryl Kornfield, Hannah Knowles, Timothy Bella, and Lindsey Bever report for the Washington Post May 22, 2022.

SEE ALSO:

"Biden Says Monkeypox Not As Concerning As Covid" (CNN)

"Biden: U.S. Exploring Monkeypox Vaccines; ‘Everybody’ Should Be Concerned" (Washington Post)

"European Countries Confirm More Than 70 Monkeypox Cases" (Washington Post)

"CDC Tells Doctors To Be On Alert For Monkeypox As Global Cases Rise" (Washington Post)

Source: Washington Post, 05/23/2022