STATEWIDE — Monkeypox has popped up all across the United States, including right here in Indiana. But the total number of cases isn’t what concerns one doctor.
The United States has about 60 confirmed cases of monkeypox, with 5 of those in the Hoosier State.
“Not as much concern in the U.S. that there is elsewhere in the world,” says Dr. Brian Dixon with the Regenstrief Institute, “right now the epicenter seems to be Europe.”
Europe has north of 6,000 total cases of monkeypox. Dr. Dixon says what’s concerning about the 60 cases in the U.S. is how widespread the outbreak is. The cases are spread across 34 states. Dr. Dixon says the numbers aren’t as troublesome as the lack of containment. He says the World Health Organization will convene a panel within the next ten days or so to determine if monkeypox is of global concern. That’s where the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic should come into play, says Dr. Dixon.
“I think we learned from COVID that we really need to invest in our testing capacity for novel emerging diseases like monkeypox and COVID,” explains Dr. Dixon. Labcorp announced it will begin testing 10,000 samples every week, doubling the current testing capacity of the Centers for Disease Control.
As for what you can do, just keep an eye out for the symptoms and contact your health care provider immediately for testing.
Symptoms include a pimply rash, fever, headaches, chills, and body aches within 3 weeks of exposure. Doctors say you’re considered infectious until those pimply scabs fall off.
