Reacting to an astonishing and growing smallpox outbreak, U.S. health officials on Tuesday expanded the group of people recommended to be vaccinated against the monkeypox virus.
They also said they are providing more vaccine against monkeypox, working to expand testing and taking other steps to try to get ahead of the outbreak.
“We will continue to take aggressive action against this virus,” said Dr Ashish Jha, White House COVID-19 response coordinator, who has also played a role in how the government treats monkeypox.
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The administration said it was expanding the group of people who are advised to be vaccinated to include those who may realize on their own that they may have been infected. This includes men who have recently had sex with men at parties or other gatherings in cities where cases of monkeypox have been identified.
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Most monkeypox patients only experience fever, body aches, chills, and fatigue. People with more serious illnesses can develop a rash and injuries to the face and hands that can spread to other parts of the body.
The disease is endemic to parts of Africa, where people have been infected by bites from rodents or small animals. It does not usually spread easily among people.
Last month, cases began to emerge in Europe and the United States. Many, but not all, of those who contracted the virus had traveled internationally. Most were men who had sex with men, but health officials stress that anyone can suffer from monkeypox.
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The number of cases has continued to grow. As of Tuesday, the U.S. had identified 306 cases in 27 states and the District of Columbia. More than 4,700 cases have been found in more than 40 more countries outside areas of Africa where the virus is endemic.
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There have been no deaths in the United States and officials say the risk to the American public is low. But they are taking steps to assure people that there are medical measures to deal with the growing problem.
One of the steps was to expand who is recommended to be vaccinated. Vaccines are usually given to boost people’s immunity before they are ever infected. But if given within days or even a few weeks after the first infection, some vaccines can reduce the severity of symptoms.
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A two-dose vaccine, Jynneos, is approved for monkeypox in the United States. The government has many more doses of an older smallpox vaccine, ACAM2000, which they say could also be used, but it is believed that this vaccine has a higher risk of side effects. and is not recommended for people who have HIV. Therefore, it is the Jynneos vaccine that officials have tried to use as the main weapon against the monkeypox outbreak.
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To date, the government has deployed more than 9,000 doses of vaccine. U.S. officials said Tuesday they are increasing the amount of Jynneos vaccine they are making available, allocating 56,000 doses immediately and about 240,000 more over the coming weeks. They promised more than 1 million more over the next few months.
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Another change: so far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised that vaccines be given after exposure to people whom health officials identify as close personal contacts in cases. But on Tuesday, CDC officials say they are extending the recommendation to people who were never identified, but who may realize on their own that they may have been infected.
This may include men who have sex with men who have recently had multiple sexual partners in a place where smallpox is known to have been present or in an area where smallpox is spreading.
“It’s almost like we’re expanding the definition of who could be a contact,” Jennifer McQuiston of the CDC said. If people have gone to a party or another place where monkeypox is known to have spread, “we recommend that they come for a vaccine,” he said.
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The CDC expansion follows similar steps taken in New York City and the District of Columbia.
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The District of Columbia has identified 19 cases, but case-follow-up investigations revealed that some of the infected men had been in meetings where they hugged, kissed or in other forms of intimate contact with strangers, Anil said. Mangla. of the DC Department of Health.
It was clear that “we were missing something here” and we needed to start offering services to others, said Mangla, an epidemiologist.
Last Thursday, the New York City Department of Health, armed with 1,000 doses of federal government Jynneos, announced it was opening a temporary clinic to offer the vaccine to all gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. who have had multiple or several men. anonymous sexual partners during the previous two weeks.
Read more: A massive vaccination campaign against monkeypox is needed, experts say
But all the appointments were quickly filled that day, and the last round of appointments was Monday. “Until we receive more supply, we will not be able to post additional vaccination appointments,” Patrick Gallahue, a spokesman for the city’s health department, said in an email.
On Monday, the District of Columbia health department took a similar step. The department began making appointments at 1 p.m. Monday, but had to stop after 20 minutes, Mangla said.
The department only had 200 doses of Jynneos, and at the time it was clear the department did not have the supply of vaccines or staffing to continue incorporating new people, he said.
© 2022 The Canadian Press