Brown university 2022 undergraduate

 

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Even before the U.S. had emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s first case of the monkeypox virus was reported in May 2022. In late July, the World Health Organization declared the ongoing monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency, and in early August, the U.S. government followed suit. Over the past few months, the monkeypox outbreak has both offered opportunities to apply lessons learned from COVID and presented its own unique challenges. Although the U.S. is currently seeing a decline in cases, the outbreak continues to affect patients both domestically and abroad. Scholars from Brown’s School of Public Health and Warren Alpert Medical School offered some key facts and insights on this complicated public health issue.

The virus can spread via direct contact with a person with monkeypox or by touching objects, fabrics and surfaces that have been used by someone with monkeypox. We don't know yet whether monkeypox is sexually transmitted, but it is associated with sex. It was initially believed that monkeypox was spreading by droplets (similar to SARS-CoV-2), but that type of transmission appears to be much less common than expected. Monkeypox is much less infectious than COVID-19.

Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men are primarily being affected by monkeypox — although anyone can get it. It is important for public health to continue to actively communicate risk to affected populations so they can make informed decisions about behavioral changes and prevention options, which include vaccination.

Despite the death of a person in the U.S. from monkeypox (and a second possible death in Texas under investigation), it is not believed that the virus is becoming more lethal. We do know that people who are immunocompromised (e.g., who are HIV-positive with a low CD4 cell count), who are receiving chemotherapy, or who have been diagnosed with certain other medical conditions) are at higher risk of complications from monkeypox. People who are immunocompromised and diagnosed with monkeypox should seek treatment immediately.

There is a need for more federal public health resources to address monkeypox, as well as COVID-19, avian flu and whatever else happens in the future. Our country is in urgent need of a framework and a national plan with resources on how to address these emerging threats to public health.