Should We Be Concerned About Monkeypox?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the U.S. leads the world in confirmed or suspected monkeypox cases. How concerned should the public be?

Monkeypox is a virus with symptoms similar to smallpox but less severe, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which declared the virus a "global health emergency" on Sunday. Monkeypox is contagious and spreads easily through contact. Deaths from monkeypox are rare; the WHO says that "in recent times, the case fatality ratio has been around 3–6%."

There have been more than 16,000 confirmed or suspected cases in 75 countries, including 3,400 in the U.S. Most cases are among gay and bisexual men, and sexual contact is thought to be one of the main ways the virus has spread. One WHO scientist said "we should not expect" monkeypox to be limited to the gay community long-term. In some cities such as New York, people have been seen lining up for vaccination, and the White House is soon expected to name a monkeypox coordinator.

Sources across the spectrum cited experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, who said that men who have sex with men are more susceptible to the virus. Left-rated sources focused on voices who encouraged vaccinations, and on LGBTQ+ activists who called for more attention on the virus. Some also highlighted severe cases and side effects. Some right-rated outlets highlighted doctors who advocated for anti-viral treatments and cautioned against using "live virus vaccines" unless there's a larger outbreak.