According to a recent technical brief from the CDC, the monkeypox virus could continue to circulate at a low level indefinitely and is unlikely to be eradicated from the United States anytime soon.
The outbreak is slowing down, according to the paper, which was designed for scientific audiences, as vaccine availability has grown and individuals are more informed of how to prevent illness. The most at-risk groups, particularly gay and bisexual males, have shown an increase in immunity.
The report also stated that low-level transmission will probably continue between males who have sex with men. According to CNBC, the CDC stated that it does not have a prediction for the number of people who may contract the illness.
According to the most recent CDC data, the United States continues to have the greatest monkeypox outbreak in the world, with more than 26,000 cases spread across all 50 states. California has recorded the most cases with over 5,000, followed by New York with almost 4,000, Florida and Texas with over 2,300, and California with over 5,000.
26 fatalities and 69,000 cases have been reported worldwide. One hundred nations that have never previously reported the monkeypox virus have infections.
The CDC claimed in the technical study that men who have intercourse with other men continue to be the main target of the virus’s propagation. However, anyone can contract the virus by coming into close contact with an infected person or by coming into contact with contaminated objects like clothing or bedding. 29 paediatric cases have been confirmed by health officials, and 78 paediatric cases are being investigated.
In addition, 408 women in the U.S. have contracted the virus, including one breastfeeding mother and four pregnant women.
The CDC said that over the course of the outbreak, the proportion of patients who identify as gay or bisexual men has decreased, with 75% of those who gave recent sexual history reporting male-to-male contact. More than 90% of infections are in men, yet in many situations, information regarding a person’s sexual history is lacking.
According to the CDC, the outbreak will likely continue to be concentrated among men who have intercourse with other men over time, with infection rates falling in the ensuing weeks. In the upcoming months, the CDC anticipates a “significant” decrease in the number of cases.
The Jynneos monkeypox vaccination has been administered to about 685,000 persons. According to CNBC, the CDC released last week preliminary data from July through September that demonstrated the vaccine is protecting against infection.
The CDC warned that if the virus spreads broadly throughout the US population through heterosexual networks or close non-sexual contact, the outbreak might intensify once more. Other nations have not yet discovered proof of a persistent gay and bisexual male population outside of sexual networks.
The CDC warned that if the monkeypox virus spreads to an animal population in the U.S., instances could return more quickly. Despite the fact that the virus has infected other mammals like primates, hedgehogs, and prairie dogs, public health professionals are unsure of which animals in North America are most susceptible to infection.
The CDC identified a number of research areas, including vaccinations, virus dissemination, and health equity among at-risk groups.
The CDC stated that there are still knowledge and data gaps about monkeypox transmission dynamics, case ascertainment, clinical characteristics, and other crucial aspects of this epidemic due to the limited availability of detailed data from case reports and contact tracing.
