Mpox - news and discussion

[WhyLikeThis]

Monkeypox is a rare infection mainly spread by wild animals in parts of west or central Africa. The risk of catching it in the UK is very low.

Mpox

Find out about mpox (previously known as monkeypox), including how you get it, what the symptoms are and what to do if you think you have it.

www.nhs.uk

Here’s a tally of cases, kept up to date by Oxford and Harvard academics:

The WHO on Monkeypox

Mpox (monkeypox)

WHO fact sheet on monkeypox: includes key facts, definition, outbreaks, transmission, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, WHO response.

www.who.int

 

[2hats]

Cases also in Portugal, Spain, US and Canada. Likely there has been community transmission for some weeks now.

CDC expresses concern about possibility of undetected monkeypox spread in U.K.

The CDC expressed concern about an unusual outbreak of monkeypox in the United Kingdom, suggesting there appears to be at least some undetected transmission of the virus.

www.statnews.com

 

[Aladdin]

Great.

Is this something that can kill you?

 

[Callie]

Great.

Is this something that can kill you?

Anything can kill you hth

 

[Aladdin]

This was what Inwas looking for.

"In Africa, monkeypox has been fatal in about 1 in 10 cases, with severe disease and death more likely among children."

That's a significant enough death rate.

 

[ouirdeaux]

There are two kinds, apparently. One with a 1 in 10 death rate, the other 1 in 100, which is rather better. Take your pick.

None of the occasional cases that has popped up in Europe, now or previously, has been fatal.

 

[platinumsage]

Taking an optimsiitc view, a new highly transmissible monkey pox variant would proably see lots of people vaccinated using the smallpox vaccine, which would certainly help if smallpox ever gets released from Russian stockpiles.

 

[cupid_stunt]

2020s, the decade that just keeps on giving.

 

[moochedit]

Taking an optimsiitc view, a new highly transmissible monkey pox variant would proably see lots of people vaccinated using the smallpox vaccine, which would certainly help if smallpox ever gets released from Russian stockpiles.

Can putin wait until we are all triple vaccinated

 

[bluescreen]

Everyone focuses on the death rate, but what bothers me is the 'making you seriously ill/long term consequences' rate. According to BBC 'It is usually a mild illness and most people recover within a few weeks' - which would be reassuring if we were told how often it wasn't a mild illness.

 

[2hats]

There are two kinds, apparently. One with a 1 in 10 death rate, the other 1 in 100, which is rather better. Take your pick.

None of the occasional cases that has popped up in Europe, now or previously, has been fatal.

The cases in the UK all appear to be the West African strain (1% mortality*) as opposed to the Congo Basin strain (10% mortality*).

* Mortalities significantly lower in regions with better [access to] healthcare.

 

[elbows]

The sexually transmitted aspect is new in terms of how health authorities think about spread of this disease. The extent to which this is proven to be the main transmission vector in the current outbreak will take time to ascertain. Especially since there will likely now be some bias towards the detection of cases that were transmitted in this way, eg via increased awareness and tests conducted at sexual health clinics. All the same, there is clearly evidence of spread via sexual activity networks and it will be important for men who have sexual activity with other men to be aware of the symptoms.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

I suppose what’s odd given the history of this virus is that this outbreak is global rather than isolated and easily contained.

WTF is that all about?

 

[WhyLikeThis]

I suppose what’s odd given the history of this virus is that this outbreak is global rather than isolated and easily contained.

WTF is that all about?

This is a curiosity. I wouldn’t reach for the tinfoil yet mind.

 

[elbows]

Well in extremely broad and general terms we can consider possibilities including changes to the virus, changes to our bodies/immune responses, and also opportunities for the virus to spread in specific ways that it might not have had the opportunity to do previously. Cannot completely rule out missed cases in the past/better detection this time either.

 

[kebabking]

Can we not just keep our cocks out of exotic wildlife for one fucking decade?

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

I suppose what’s odd given the history of this virus is that this outbreak is global rather than isolated and easily contained.

WTF is that all about?

Rapid local and international travel mainly I guess. Mixed with pressure to get places more rapidly.

People get to more places during disease incubation.

Plus environmental changes can move animal populations or make things easier for diseases to survive.

Also perhaps presure for people to do stuff when somewhat unwell.

 

[LDC]

Some of the first cases in Newcastle, where have I heard that before....?

There have been two positives in the Newcastle area.

Hunt begins for 'close contacts' of the two UK coronavirus cases

Health officials tracing anyone at risk from Chinese nationals being treated in Newcastle

www.theguardian.com

And so it begins...

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Some of the first cases in Newcastle, where have I heard that before....?

It was York with Covid wasn’t it?

 

[Idris2002]

2020s, the decade that just keeps on giving.

And if you liked the 2020s, you'll love the 2030s.

 

[Riklet]

Why is there media talk of this supposed link with gay/bisexual men or MSM (men who have sex with men). Is this based on recent outbreaks? And if its aerosol transmission and whatnot why is that a factor? Im not sure what to make of this.

Implying it isnt affecting the "straight" population could be really unhelpful over the next few weeks too...

 

[LDC]

Why is there media talk of this supposed link with gay/bisexual men or MSM (men who have sex with men). Is this based on recent outbreaks? And if its aerosol transmission and whatnot why is that a factor? Im not sure what to make of this.

Implying it isnt affecting the "straight" population could be really unhelpful over the next few weeks too...

Yeah, based on current outbreaks and where they're located demographically in the population.

Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates

Latest updates on cases of monkeypox identified by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

www.gov.uk

 

[Callie]

Can we not just keep our cocks out of exotic wildlife for one fucking decade?

You tell me!

 

[Callie]

Why is there media talk of this supposed link with gay/bisexual men or MSM (men who have sex with men). Is this based on recent outbreaks? And if its aerosol transmission and whatnot why is that a factor? Im not sure what to make of this.

Implying it isnt affecting the "straight" population could be really unhelpful over the next few weeks too...

I believe all current episodes gave been linked to this population.

Edited to add in the uk

 

[JimW]

Story I read said prolonged skin contact can lead to transmission, hence it's possible during sex and likely what happened here with one of the early cases just so happening to be a MSM.

 

[SpookyFrank]

It was York with Covid wasn’t it?

Brighton. Making Covid the second worst thing ever to come from Brighton, right after people from Brighton.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Brighton. Making Covid the second worst thing ever to come from Brighton, right after people from Brighton.

I meant in the North.

 

[2hats]

Cases now reported in Sweden and Italy.

Britain offers smallpox shot as monkeypox cases spread in Europe

A smattering of monkeypox cases in Britain has prompted authorities to offer a smallpox vaccine to some healthcare workers and others who may have been exposed, as a handful more cases were confirmed in parts of Europe.

www.reuters.com

 

[cupid_stunt]

Brighton. Making Covid the second worst thing ever to come from Brighton, right after people from Brighton.

Wrong, Magnus McGinty was right, the first cases in the UK were in York at the end of Jan., followed by Brighton in early Feb.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

I meant in the North.

I didn’t mean in the north.