Epidemiologists Warn U.S. Reaches Critical Moment To Contain Monkeypox

"On the heels of a public health emergency declaration from the World Health Organization, epidemiologists and public health experts warn the U.S. is running out of time to contain a monkeypox outbreak that has infected nearly 3,000 Americans.

"We're losing daylight," UCLA epidemiologist Anne Rimoin, who has studied monkeypox for decades, told NPR. "Every day that we aren't continuing to push forward on all fronts, the less likely it is that we will be able to contain it."

U.S. officials have already expanded testing, made tens of thousands of vaccines available and made plans to release another 1.6 million doses in the coming months.

But the limited supplies have not matched demand, some health officials have reported. And despite limited testing, case numbers have grown so rapidly in recent weeks that a larger response may be necessary to contain the outbreak, experts say – if containment is still possible."

Becky Sullivan reports for NPR July 25, 2022.

SEE ALSO:

"W.H.O. Declares Monkeypox Spread a Global Health Emergency" (New York Times)

Source: NPR, 07/25/2022