Monkeypox: First Confirmed U.S. Case, Vax To Help

Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regnery / CDC

By Alexandra Meeks

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to a global outbreak of monkeypox cases, the US is working to release a vaccine from the nation’s Strategic National Stockpile to combat the rare virus.

There is one confirmed case of monkeypox and four suspected cases in the US, the CDC said.


The confirmed case is in a man in Massachusetts, and the four other suspected cases are in men in New York, Florida and Utah.

While anyone can get or spread monkeypox, a “notable fraction of cases” in the latest global outbreak are happening among gay and bisexual men, the CDC said yesterday.

As a result, the CDC decided to hold a news conference about the outbreak now because LGBTQ Pride month usually kicks off around Memorial Day weekend, and officials wanted to make sure the community was aware of the situation.



 

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