Expert warns that monkeypox is the next pandemic – but ‘not anything like the Covid outbreak’

An expert warns that monkeypox will become the next pandemic to hit the world, as the current virus outbreak has caused more than 30,000 cases worldwide – with around a third of infections reported. detected in the United States alone, which has the largest outbreak. world.

Dr. Joseph Eisenberg, an epidemiologist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, said in an interview that he believes the virus outbreak will become the next pandemic in the US, but not to the same heights. COVID-19.

His comments come as the nation’s outbreak begins to spiral out of control.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded another 366 infections on Thursday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 10,758.

The surge in cases and the potential for the virus to turn into a pandemic has health officials worried. The United States is facing a major vaccine shortage, with only about 1.1 million vaccines.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is said to be considering splitting the stock by five ingredients to make the limited supply go further – although it has been criticized for the move because there is very little support data.

“Monkeypox is the next pandemic,” Eisenberg said.

‘It is spreading globally through several countries, including the US. In the United States, the number of cases is rapidly increasing into the thousands.

‘However, it is a different type of pandemic than what we see in Covid, as it is much less contagious and it is currently affecting a specific risk group associated with very close, close contact. secret. And so, yes, it’s a pandemic, but it’s not like the Covid pandemic. ‘

However, not all agree that the situation is this dire. Andrew Brouwer, an assistant research scientist at the Michigan School of Public Health, stepped back in the same interview.

‘The COVID-19 pandemic has made us susceptible to disease transmission. Other outbreaks … are much less noticeable,’ he said.

‘That’s not to say we should let MPV and other outbreaks fly under the radar, but we should have some perspective that outbreaks of many diseases happen all the time and not all are a concern. existential threat.’

However, Brouwer thinks the increased attention to the virus is helping to combat it, making ordinary people more aware of its spread and how to detect a potential case.

The virus has spread rapidly to start the new month. More than half of the total 10,758 confirmed cases in the US -5,569 – have been detected in the past 11 days alone.

More than a fifth of cases in the US are in New York, where 2,187 cases have been confirmed. In particular, the Big Apple has emerged as the nation’s largest monkeypox hotspot – much like it was in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

California (1,892 confirmed cases of monkeypox) and Florida (1,053) are the only other states with more than 1,000 cases each.

The virus has been detected in 49 states and the District of Columbia, with Wyoming the only state still at zero.

The number of cases has increased in recent weeks, possibly for a variety of reasons. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has greatly expanded testing efforts – with the country able to test about 80,000 people a week.

Americans are also now more aware of monkeypox, and a person with symptoms is more likely to seek medical attention. Doctors are also more vigilant when testing someone with symptoms.

But there are also concerns that the virus is spreading beyond control – especially as there are more and more outbreaks outside of gay and bisexual men, who initially mostly all infected.

However, officials appear to have caught on to the outbreak, resulting in a shortage of initial tests and a shortage of vaccine supplies that are still hampering the response.

As large population centers as New York City, appointments were filled within minutes due to extremely high demand.

To quell the shortage of the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine, federal officials are planning to provide a dose of the vaccine of just 0.1 milliliters (ml) — a sharp drop from the standard 0.5 milliliter dose.

They believe that using an intradermal injection method – delivering the vaccine between layers of the skin instead of underneath the skin’s fat layer – will ensure effective injection.

But there are some questions about whether this is the right move.

In 2015, researchers gathered that the smallpox vaccine was also effective when given in smaller doses than if injected intradermally.

Former FDA Director Dr Scott Gottlieb (pictured) told CBS’ Face the Nation that access to monkeypox tests and vaccines will need to be expanded to bring the current outbreak under control

However, that was just one study that was done on 524 participants and used a different vaccine.

Paul Chaplin, CEO of Bavariant Nordic manufacturer Jynneos, published an open letter to Dr Xavier Becerra, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and Dr. The Food and Drug Administration expressed concern about the lack of data to support the plan.

The Danish pharmaceutical giant is demanding more tests on the effectiveness of smaller doses before the country overhauls its vaccine strategy.

Currently, the injections are mainly given to men who have sex with other men – although some of those exposed have been given the shot as a precaution.

Access to photos may need to be extended soon. Some officials fear that the virus has broken out of that sexual network and is now making its way into other groups.

Dr Scott Gottlieb, director of the FDA’s founding, told CBS’ Face the Nation last weekend was very likely.

‘We are continuing to look for cases in the community of men who have sex with men, it was mainly spread within that community, but without a doubt it has spread outside the community that’s at this point and I think we need to start looking at the broader cases.’

Gottlieb says anyone with atypical shingles or herpes should be tested for monkeypox at this time.

Expand testing or find more cases – giving officials more information they can use to control the outbreak – or it will confirm more people than negative and confirm areas. areas where the virus is not spread.

He also believes the CDC should start monitoring wastewater – which could provide a more general picture of where the virus is spreading without needing individual testing.

Despite his concerns, Gottlieb doesn’t think the virus has reached the point where the average American should worry.

“I don’t think this is something people need to worry about,” he explained.

‘I think the prevalence of this infection in the wider community is still very low. Your risk of being exposed to monkeypox remains extremely low outside of certain social networks, where you see higher case rates.

‘If you want to contain it…we need to start looking for it more widely.’