Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, briefed Congress on Wednesday about the ongoing spread of monkeypox across the United States. However, she noted that the rate at which new cases have been reported has reduced over the past several weeks.
According to her testimony before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on Wednesday, the virus is still spreading at a rapid clip in certain regions of the United States. However, the growth of new monkeypox cases across the country and globally has been slowing down in recent weeks.
She stated in front of the committee that “we approach this news with guarded hope.”
More than 22,600 cases of monkeypox have been reported in all 50 states and Washington, District of Columbia in the United States, making it the greatest outbreak of its kind in the world. according to the data from the CDC. This also includes Puerto Rico.
The disease only rarely results in death, but it does create painful sores that look like blisters or pimples. Dr. Walensky reports that there has been one documented fatality in the United States as a direct result of the condition.
The only vaccination for monkeypox that is currently authorised for use in the United States is called Jynneos and it is produced by the Danish biotech company Bavarian Nordic. There are two doses, which are given out 28 days apart, and experts from the CDC believe that it is essential for anyone who are at risk to receive the second shot. Following the second dose, it takes around two weeks for the immune system to attain its maximum reaction.
According to guidelines provided by the CDC, individuals who have been diagnosed with monkeypox should refrain from interacting with other people, remain away from other people, and not exchange any items or materials with other individuals until the rash has healed and a new layer of skin has formed.