Health experts in the United States reported last Friday (10) that the cases of smallpox in monkeys detected so far do not necessarily manifest the usual symptoms, which makes it difficult to diagnose the disease.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) highlights that case identification has been crucial to reducing the spread of the disease.
“We’ve seen manifestations of monkeypox that are mild and sometimes limited to only a few areas of the body, which differs from the classic manifestation seen in endemic West Central African countries,” said Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC.
“This has raised concerns that some cases may go unnoticed or undiagnosed,” added the CDC director, calling for greater vigilance among medical professionals and the general public.
Current cases do not always have flu-associated symptoms, such as fever, body aches, and swollen glands that commonly precede the characteristic flu outbreak.
Also, while cases of rash usually appear all over the body, many of the current cases show this symptom only in certain areas.
“It’s important to note that smallpox cases can have similarities to some sexually transmitted infections,” such as herpes, “and can be confused with other diagnoses,” Walensky said.
The United States has so far reported 45 cases, double the number recorded last week, with no associated deaths in these reports. As of June 9, about 1,300 cases have been identified worldwide, the director said.
The transmission of the disease requires close and prolonged contact between two people. The United States is particularly counting on vaccination to contain the epidemic.
The country has 100 million doses of the ACAM2000 vaccine, but is in the process of obtaining doses of another, more modern vaccine, Jynneos, said the official.
At the end of May, the United States had just 1,000 doses, Dawn O’Connell, a Department of Health official, said Friday. Another 300,000 doses are expected to arrive in the coming weeks, she added.
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