Should We Be Concerned About Monkeypox?
Summary from the AllSides News Team
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.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Center
U.S. Leads Globally in Known Monkeypox Cases, CDC Says
The U.S. has reported more than 3,400 confirmed or suspected monkeypox cases, federal data showed, becoming the country with the most known infections since the onset of the global health emergency.
The rise in cases comes as the U.S. expands testing capacity, broadening the ability to spot new infections, but also as the global outbreak continues to grow. Some public-health experts said rising transmission heightens the chances a broader population will face the risk of infections as the opportunity to slow and potentially stop the outbreak is fading.
The outbreak has largely been...
From the Left
Not Everyone Has to Be Equally Worried About Monkeypox
Lisa, a 30-year-old mom living in Chicago, has seen the warnings.
Monkeypox spreads through contaminated clothes, the virus lives on surfaces for months, and it might even be airborne. Monkeypox “will become established in the pediatric and general population and will transmit through daycares and schools,” a prominent doctor on Twitter declares.
Is it risky, Lisa wonders, to shop at the grocery store? Can she keep her child, born during the first year of the COVID pandemic, safe? Will she have to go back to living like she did in 2020?
“I...
From the Right
Monkeypox: What you must know about the virus — and how to protect yourself
As the monkeypox virus becomes a health concern that Americans seem to hear about more and more, what are some of the best practices for avoiding the virus — and is it time to worry?
Fox News Digital talked on Monday with Dr. Marc Siegel, a physician and professor of medicine at the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, and a Fox News contributor, about the monkeypox virus.
He said the virus is usually not serious, though the rash is "painful" and "can cause scarring," he said.
Dr. Siegel said that no...
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