The United States has stepped up its anti-epidemic strategy against monkeypox . Health authorities announced on the 28th that they will immediately distribute 56,000 doses of monkeypox vaccine to areas with high transmission, which is five times the number distributed so far.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) originally recommended only those who have been confirmed to be exposed to the virus to receive the monkeypox vaccine.
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said in the briefing, "But now, we recommend that two types of people should be vaccinated against monkeypox: those who have been exposed to known monkeypox by public health authorities and those who have recently been exposed Monkeypox, but may not be confirmed through epidemic surveillance and tracing."
Examples include men who have sex with men (MSM) who have recently had multiple sexual partners in a setting known to have monkeypox or in an area where monkeypox is transmitted.
Walensky said that during the outbreak that began in early May, 4,700 cases of monkeypox were detected around the world, including 306 in the United States, but none were fatal.
Monkeypox can cause symptoms such as fever and rash. It is similar to smallpox but less severe, although immunocompromised people may be at greater risk. Monkeypox is mainly spread through close contact.
David Boucher, an official of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), said that the Australian government has distributed nearly 10,000 doses of vaccine and 300 antiviral treatment courses so far, and released the vaccine on the 28th. Delivered 56,000 doses of JYNNEOS vaccine. This vaccine was originally developed for smallpox.
The U.S. government will receive an additional 240,000 doses of vaccine in the coming weeks, and 1.6 million doses are expected to be available this year.
Observers point out that the true number of monkeypox cases in the United States may be much higher than the official figure. Part of the new strategy is to make testing more widely available and easier to administer.
The CDC has expanded testing to 78 locations in 48 states, "with the capacity to conduct nearly 10,000 tests per week nationwide."
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