Monkeypox: a new mystery
A lot of monkeypox stories are up this morning. Changes in the virus might explain why a disease normally endemic only in Africa is cropping up in different spots around the globe. There are now three confirmed cases in Quebec; Canada may provide some smallpox vaccine, known to be effective against it. And since most of the victims have been gay men, there’s a fear of a backlash. The Journal has an infographic with the headline “une maladie rare et peu contagieuse” – unless it has mutated?
Update: Five confirmed cases in Quebec.
Chris 15:09 on 2022-05-21 Permalink
Is there any evidence it has mutated? Would you rather a headline that baselessly speculates instead of one that is factually correct according to current knowledge?
Kate 15:37 on 2022-05-21 Permalink
It’s merely a surmise. CBC’s piece suggests “a major shift in the behaviour of the virus and its ability to spread from person to person unnoticed” – what else could it be?
Blork 16:01 on 2022-05-21 Permalink
The monkeypox virus already exists in a few variations, and case counts have been steadily rising over the past 20 years.
Generally speaking, you need a big viral dose to become infected, which is why it is somewhat linked to sexual activity in the current local cases. As in, you won’t get it from just being near an infected person, you pretty much have to make out with them (or touch a lesion, etc.)
That said, prolonged exposure to someone “speaking moistly” could also spread it, but apparently it really needs to be prolonged.
Probably the biggest concern is if the virus spreads to a local animal reservoir. Squirrels apparently are very susceptible, and it would be a disaster if they became a vector for the disease because squirrels are everywhere and people get up close with them a lot. (A scratch or small bite from an infected animal can spread the virus; you don’t have to make out with a squirrel to get it from them.) Apparently once it’s established in an animal reservoir it’s very hard to un-do that. Currently the only known animal reservoirs are in Africa (AFAIK).
H. John 18:39 on 2022-05-21 Permalink
On twitter, I follow Dr. Angela Rasmussen (@angie_rasmussen), U Sask. She’s a virologist who recently moved to Canada to head a lab.
On monkeypox, she highly recommended this article:
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/monkeypox-originate-covid-pandemic-dont-freak-yet-rcna29839?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma
Kate 18:54 on 2022-05-21 Permalink
Thank you, Blork and H. John.
I’m not freaking, just looking at links. I doubt this will be the last contagious disease to have the media on the qui vive in the wake of Covid.