(AP) NEW YORK — According to some U.S. health professionals, monkeypox is likely to persist for some time.
The virus is so pervasive that its eventual eradication is doubtful, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even though the disease’s transmission is decreasing. This finding was contained in a recent CDC study, and Marc Lipsitch, the center’s head of science for science, reaffirmed it on Friday.
Although Lipsitch was hesitant to state that monkeypox was unavoidably here to stay, he predicted that it will continue to be a hazard for the foreseeable future.
According to Lipsitch, “it’s in many geographical regions both inside and beyond the country.” We don’t have a clear plan in mind for finishing domestic elimination.
Health experts continue to emphasize that anyone can contract the virus, even though it has primarily spread among homosexual and bisexual males. People who are vulnerable must take action to stop the spread of the disease, and vaccination campaigns must continue, according to Lipsitch.
There was some good news in the CDC report: Early August seems to have been the apex of the U.S. outbreak. Less than 150 cases are recorded on average each day, which is approximately a third fewer instances than were reported in the middle of the summer. Officials anticipate the reduction to continue for at least the next few weeks.
The good news, according to Lipsitch, is due to rising vaccination rates, prudent conduct on the part of those at risk, and infection-derived immunity in the highest risk populations.
Although the spread of monkeypox in the United States is not expected to cease very soon, Dr. Tom Ingles by, head of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, acknowledged that it is still conceivable in the long run.
Even if domestic transmission were to stop, he said, the virus might still spread worldwide if someone contracted it while abroad. However, the decrease in cases gives the impression that “we’ve really turned a corner.”
He declared that the current efforts should be kept up or even stepped up because they were working.
As the number of cases declines, he suggested that local health agencies try again at conducting thorough contact tracing to try to break chains of transmission.
More than 67,000 cases have been reported in nations where monkeypox has never before occurred. With almost 25,600 infections, the United States has the most of any nation. Monkeypox has been implicated in one U.S. death.
In the United States, men make up more than 97% of the cases. Males who recently had sex with other men have made up the vast majority.
Although there have been fewer cases, there have also been fewer new cases with information regarding recent sexual interaction, according to officials. As a result, Lipsitch said, there is an increasing blind area about the potential spread of the virus.
The Department of Science Education of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute provides assistance to the Associated Press Health & Science Department. All content is the exclusive responsibility of the AP.