Category: Monkey Pox Vaccine

Monkeypox stocks, our topic for today, have had a mostly mixed performance so far in 2022. It is likely, however, that they could benefit from the similar tailwinds enjoyed by companies, such as Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX), and Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA), which have developed the Covid-19 vaccines that have now become household names.

Monkeypox is a smallpox-like disease caused by the monkeypox virus. Both viruses share the same genus: Orthopoxvirus.Originally relegated to certain central and western African countries, the disease has spread to some 31,000 people globally. There are around 10,000 cases stateside. Yet, the majority of monkeypox cases are relatively mild.

The diseases relative mildness aside, fears of a possible Covid-like monkeypox pandemic have alleviated some of the recent woes afflicting the biotech industry. Not entirely of course, as the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index, for example, is still down around 10% year to date (YTD). Meanwhile, the broader NASDAQ Composite has fallen almost 16% over the same period.

With governments worldwide stockpiling vaccines and treatments, monkeypox researchers and vaccine manufacturers could see a sharp increase in share prices. With that information, here are seven monkeypox stocks to buy in August.

Source: ktsdesign / Shutterstock.com

52-week range: $0.62 $7.35

Our first on this list of monkeypox stocks is a testing play, Applied DNA Sciences (NASDAQ:APDN) offers DNA-based biotechnology solutions. The company operates in three primary business markets: the manufacture of DNA for use in nucleic acid-based therapeutics; the detection of DNA in molecular diagnostics testing services; and the manufacture and detection of DNA for industrial supply chain security services.

Management released third quarter FY22 results on Aug. 11. Revenue came in at $4.3 million, compared with $1.7 million for the same period last year. Net loss per share was 13 cents compared to 48 cents for the same period last year.

Recently, APDN announced that its wholly-owned clinical laboratory subsidiary, Applied DNA Clinical Labs (ADCL), has developed a PCR-based test to detect the monkeypox virus through its genetic signature. If approved by various health authorities, the test will be used to power ADCLs monkeypox testing services.

APDN stock is down about 17% year-to-date (YTD) and 45% over a 12-month period. Shares trade at 1.68 times sales. Meanwhile, the 12-month median price forecast for APDN stands at $7.00.

Source: angellodeco / Shutterstock.com

52-week range: $5.85 $19.31

Bavarian Nordic (OTCMKTS:BVNRY) is a Danish biotechnology and pharmaceutical company. The company manufactures the only two vaccines approved in the U.S. for monkeypox: Imvanex and Jynneos. This alone makes it a top pick as far as monkeypox stocks go.

In early May, Bavarian Nordic reported Q1 financials. Revenue was 320 million Danish Kroner (DKK), decreasing from 535 million DKK the year before. Cash and equivalents totaled 2.95 billion DKK.

The company recently announced an additional contract to provide 350,000 doses of its Jynneos smallpox/monkeypox vaccine to an undisclosed Asia/Pacific Region country. The company already has contracts with governments in the U.S., Canada, and others. For instance, Jynneos is part of the Strategic National Stockpile, which contains enough vaccines to vaccinate every person stateside.

As a result of these positive developments, BVNRY stock has jumped up 11.7% YTD. Shares are trading at 13.1 times sales.

Source: Pavel Kapysh / Shutterstock.com

52-week range: $1.27 $7.42

Biopharma play Chimerix (NASDAQ:CMRX) is known for TEMBEXA, an oral antiviral in tablet and oral suspension formulations used for the treatment of smallpox disease. It was approved bythe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2021.

Management released Q2 results on Aug. 8. Revenue came in at $0.4 million. Net loss per share was 27 cents compared with 21 cents for the year-ago quarter.

In Late June, Chimerix announced that the Public Health Agency of Canada awarded a contract up to $25.3 million to procure TEMBEXA. Long-term CMRX shareholders would know that earlier in the year, the company agreed with Emergent BioSolutions (NYSE:EBS) for Emergent to sell Chimerixs exclusive worldwide rights to TEMBEXA. Therefore, the exact amount of royalties for Chimerix needs to be finalized.

CMRX stock is down about 58% YTD and 56% over a 12-month period. Wall Streets 12-month median price forecast for CMRX is $6.00.

Source: Flabygasted / Shutterstock.com

52-week range: $0.55 $7.50

Next on our list of monkeypox stocks is GeoVax Labs (NASDAQ:GOVX). GeoVax is a clinical-stage, pre-revenue pharma company with a focus on vaccines and immunotherapies. Its current research programs center around Covid-19, various hemorrhagic fever viruses, Zika virus, malaria, and various forms of cancer. The company utilizes recombinant-DNA-based genetic engineering to develop its drugs.

In early August, GeoVax provided Q2 earnings. Loss per share was 18 cents, compared to a loss per share of 21 cents the prior year. Cash and equivalents totaled $30.9 million.

Recently, the company announced that its GEO-CM04S1 vaccine was being evaluated for effectiveness against monkeypox. GeoVax also revealed that its hemorrhagic fever virus vaccine will also be assessed as a possible candidate for monkeypox. GeoVax anticipates both vaccines will show effectiveness against the virus.

Yet, despite the potential, GOVX stock has lost close to a third of its value since January. Shares are trading at 80.4 times sales.

52-Week Range: $24.77-$55.55

Dividend Yield: 1.15%

Expense Ratio: 0.47% per year

Recent metrics suggest that the global biotechnology market can hit $3.9 trillion by 2030, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.9% between 2022 and 2030. Thus, our next choice is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that focuses on global biopharmaceutical and healthcare companies.

The iShares Genomics Immunology and Healthcare ETF (NYSEARCA:IDNA) invests in businesses that could benefit from the long-term growth and innovation in genomics, immunology, as well as bioengineering. Many of these stocks are involved in critical research and development (R&D). The fund was first listed in June 2019.

IDNA, which tracks the NYSE FactSet Global Genomics and Immuno Biopharma Index, currently holds a basket of 41 holdings. The top 10 stocks comprise more than 40% of $217.2 million in net assets. More than two-thirds of the companies come from the U.S. Next in line are businesses from Germany (7.6%), Japan (6.4%), China (4.5%), and Denmark (3.9%).

Leading names include biotechnology company Beam Therapeutics (NASDAQ:BEAM); clinical-stage genome editing firm Intellia Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NTLA); Cayman Islands-based biotech name Beigene (NASDAQ:BGNE); clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Fate Therapeutics (NASDAQ:FATE); and Moderna.

IDNA has dropped nearly 22% since January and 35.5% over the past 12 months. Trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) and price-to-book (P/B) ratios stand at 12.36x and 2.19x, respectively. Interested readers whose long-term portfolios can handle short-term choppiness could invest in the promising prospects of the biotech sector through IDNA.

Source: Dmitry Kalinovsky / Shutterstock.com

52-week range: $5.49 $25.54

SIGA Technologies (NASDAQ:SIGA) is a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company. It offers, TPOXX, an antiviral medication used to treat smallpox and other pox viruses, including monkeypox. It is also available through the Strategic National Stockpile.

In early August, SIGA posted Q2 metrics. Revenue totaled $16.7 million, compared to $8.7 million the previous year. Diluted income per share was 3 cents. Cash and equivalents totaled $114.5 million.

The company recently announced its TPOXX antiviral medication will be used in an experimental treatment protocol in the Central African Republic, CAR. The company will provide up to 500 doses to the study, sponsored by Oxford University in the U.K.

SIGA stock has skyrocketed almost 230% since the beginning of the year. Shares are trading at 12.6 times sales.

Source: Sisacorn / Shutterstock.com

52-week range: $1.19 $24.89

Last on our list of monkeypox stocks is the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Tonix Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:TNXP). Its portfolio comprises of candidates for the central nervous system (CNS), immunology and infectious diseases.

Management reported Q2 results on Aug. 8. The pharma play has not recorded any revenues, yet. However, loss per share went down to $1.22 compared to $2.25 for the prior-year quarter.

Recently, TNXP announced a collaboration with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) to seek regulatory approval for conducting a Phase 1 clinical study in Kenya. The study aims to develop TNX-8011 as a vaccine to protect against monkeypox and smallpox and is expected to start in the first half of 2023.

TNXP stock is down 86% YTD struggling to stay above $1 per share to stay listed on the stock exchange. Therefore, it is a risky biotech and smallpox play, not suitable for most portfolios.

On Penny Stocks and Low-Volume Stocks:With only the rarest exceptions, InvestorPlace does not publish commentary about companies that have a market cap of less than $100 million or trade less than 100,000 shares each day. Thats because these penny stocks are frequently the playground for scam artists and market manipulators. If we ever do publish commentary on a low-volume stock that may be affected by our commentary, we demand thatInvestorPlace.coms writers disclose this fact and warn readers of the risks.

Read More:Penny Stocks How to Profit Without Getting Scammed

On the date of publication, Tezcan Gecgil, Ph.D., is both long and short BNTX. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.comPublishing Guidelines.

Tezcan Gecgil has worked in investment management for over two decades in the U.S. and U.K. In addition to formal higher education in the field, she has also completed all 3 levels of the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) examination. Her passion is for options trading based on technical analysis of fundamentally strong companies. She especially enjoys setting up weekly covered calls for income generation.

Original post:

7 Monkeypox Vaccine Stocks to Buy Before They Shoot Higher - InvestorPlace

Monkeypox in Erie: Denise Johnson, M.D., PA secretary of health

Denise Johnson, M.D., Pennsylvania's physician general and acting secretary of health, talks about monkeypox during a visit to Erie on July 14.

David Bruce, Erie Times-News

Two more cases of monkeypox have been found in Erie County, increasing the total to three during this worldwide outbreak.

Erie County Department of Health officials said Monday that the cases were reported last week. No other details were immediately available.

The latest news comes as the county's response to the monkeypox outbreak has evolved, as both free vaccine and testing are now available though there are restrictions.

Monkeypox vaccine continues to be limited primarily to those who have been in close contact with others diagnosed with the viral illness.

Testing is also available but can be done only on people with lesions, said Dalen Michael, director of the Central Outreach Wellness Center, 3104 State St., which offers free vaccine and free testing. The Erie County Department of Health, 606 W. Second St., also offers free vaccine.

"You must have lesions because we have to swab (the discharge) for the test," Michael said. "We've seen people who want the test and we can't do it because they don't have lesions."

More than 10,400 monkeypox cases had been found in the United States as of Wednesday, the highest number of any country in the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

Only three cases of the viral illness have been confirmed in Erie County, well below the 147 cases in Philadelphia County and 38 cases in Allegheny County. But Michael said he expects to see more cases as the disease spreads.

"It hasn't really hit here yet," Michael said. "But I think it will. It's a concern for every city."

More: Monkeypox arrives in Erie, public health threat less because spread is slower

Monkeypox spreads through prolonged and close skin-to-skin contact, which can include hugging, cuddling and kissing, as well as through the sharing of bedding, towels and clothing. Most cases involve men who have sex with other men, but others have been diagnosed as well.

The primary symptom of monkeypox is a rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals or anus,according to CDC. A person can also develop flu-like symptoms like a fever, headache and chills.

The mortality rate for monkeypox is 1% to 3%, according to the CDC.

More monkeypox vaccine is headed to Erie County, as both the county health department and Central Outreach Wellness Center expect additional doses by next week.

The Food and Drug Administration also issued an emergency use authorization for the Jynneos smallpox vaccine that allows shots to be administered in a way that allows five doses to be obtained from a current single dose.

More: FDA allows new delivery of monkeypox vaccine to make more doses available

"We would love to see this result in an expansion of who can get vaccinated, but we aren't there yet," said Charlotte Berringer, R.N., director of community health services for the county health department.

Not vaccinating high-risk people who haven't yet been exposed to someone with monkeypox frustrates Michael, who said vaccinating more people will prevent future cases.

"I would love to be able to vaccinate everyone who I feel is at risk," Michael said.

If you feel that you have been exposed to someone with monkeypox and need information, you can talk with a county health department nurse at 814-451-6700, option 2. To schedule testing or a vaccination at the Central Outreach Wellness Center, call 814-619-4009.

Monkeypox testing can also be ordered by many local primary care physicians, though the cost depends on a person's health insurance coverage.

Contact David Bruce atdbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter@ETNBruce.

Go here to see the original:

Free monkeypox testing and vaccine available in Erie, with restrictions - GoErie.com

Since June, there have been over 10,000 confirmed monkeypox cases in the U.S. In early August, the Biden administration declared monkeypox a public health emergency with several states such as California and Illinois, and cities like New York and San Francisco following suit.

On August 10, a panel of Johns Hopkins experts including Amesh Adalja, MD, Noreen Hynes, MD, and William Moss, MD, PhD from the School of Public Health, and Jason Farley from the School of Nursing, gathered to discuss the monkeypox emergency. Lainie Rutkow moderated the conversation.

The panel covered topics such as the prevention, testing, and treatment of monkeypox; ways of reducing stigma around the outbreaks; and the limited availability and distribution of monkeypox vaccines. The following is an overview of the conversation with key takeaways.

Watch the full recording of the event here, and read The Hubs recap here.

What does monkeypox testing look like right now in terms of availability?

AA: Testing has gotten better in the last several weeks than it was early on, where it was really restricted to CDC-affiliated laboratories, which is not adequate in an infectious disease emergency. We have to think about making testing much more distributed, even more so than it is right now. This should be something at clinics, where individuals presenting for care can be tested quickly.

We are limited because this is a test that requires you to swab skin specimens, and lesions may not be the first symptoms individuals get. We need to think about whether we can do saliva testing, or can we do other ways of testing so that people can know their status earlier.

There are some technological hurdles there. Just as it was with COVID-19, testing has become a major barrier to getting a handle on the outbreak.

How are antivirals like Tecovirimat or Tpoxx helpful?

NH: Even if someone has monkeypox, they don't necessarily need to receive an antiviral because the particular strain that's circulating in the U.S., and worldwide outside of the endemic area, is something that is usually mild and has a very low case fatality rate.

Until we have enough antivirals, were probably not going to administer [them] to someone who can stay quarantined. But we might be more likely to use one of the three antivirals that we have on someone who needs to be in a congregate living space.

How concerned should people be about potential exposure of monkeypox during domestic or international travel?

JF: What we know right now is that your personal risk of coming in contact with an individual who might have monkeypox is still relatively low. We have limited data on how long monkeypox lives on surfaces, and whether or not its replicating or a transmissible virus is still an area of debate. I would say you should feel free to travel.

I do have patients using pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV that are planning travel to endemic areas where currently there are a lot of cases among men who have sex with men, and I caution them about harm reduction strategies while they are traveling.

How do we know that monkeypox can be controlled?

AA: Contagiousness during the incubation period is a key factor. That's why SARS-CoV-2 is so hard to control and why the 2009 H1N1 pandemic spread throughout the world in a matter of months.

If something is contagious during its incubation period, it's very hard to intervene. We don't seem to see that with monkeypoxjust like we didn't see that with smallpoxand that's actually one of the key reasons why smallpox could be eradicated.

What do we know about the sexual spread?

AA: Around 2017 in Nigeria, there was person-to-person spread in individuals who had multiple sex partners and a lot of the lesions were in the genital area. Theres an understanding that this virus could get into sexual networks and spread through that close contact.

It's important to use the words sexual network or close contact because it's not clear at this point if monkeypox is behaving as a strictly sexually transmitted infection, meaning the virus being is conveyed from one person to another through bodily fluids.

Whats the fastest route to containment at this point?

AA: When we think about how smallpox was eradicated, they didnt vaccinate everybody. They just vaccinated close contacts of [infected] individuals using contact tracing.

This did not work for monkeypox because many people did not know who they were in contact with and who might have been exposed. The containment [strategy] here will be getting the vaccine to at-risk individuals, [such as] a man who has sex with multiple partners, or goes to those types of events where [monkeypox has been] spread.

We [also] have to think about harm reduction. Having a new sexual partner right now is a risk factor for monkeypox. Think about decreasing the number of partners you have until you're vaccinated or immune, or exchanging information with people so that contact tracing is possible.

What does isolation look like for suspected or confirmed monkeypox patients?

JF: Individuals should isolate at home until the lesions have completely healed, without contact with other individuals. Try to avoid sharing as much common area as possible. Individuals should also be wiping down surfaces in shared spaces, and avoid sharing bathroom facilities. Do not share anything that would have contact with the skin, including soap.

Obviously, individuals who are experiencing homelessness and others have a different set of recommendations within congregate settings.

Can someone who has had monkeypox be reinfected?

JF: We don't have a lot of data on this, but we can extrapolate what we know about other orthopox infections, namely smallpox.

Individuals who were infected with smallpox were protected from reinfection. Theres likely a similar phenomenon that occurs with monkeypox, where people are not going to get reinfectedand definitely not immediately.

There may be some time over several years that somebody could get reinfected, or that their immunity wanes, or if they [become] immunosuppressed. In general, we expect most people to not be susceptible to reinfection in the near term, which I think will be useful when it comes to thinking about the trajectory of this outbreak in non-endemic countries.

How has stigma played a role in this outbreak?

JF: The vast majority of cases in the monkeypox outbreak have been among men who have sex with men, but we know that transmission is certainly not limited to that group. Many public health experts are concerned about the dangers of stigma and discrimination in relation to the outbreak.

The impact of the diagnosis of monkeypox and living with this infection can have a very overwhelming effect on the individuals being diagnosed and experiencing considerable symptoms.

With this particular illness, stigma has presented itself in a variety of different ways:

For example, a patient in his mid-thirties is a gay man, [and] he is not out to his employer or many of his family members. A diagnosis of monkeypox means notifying friends, family, and sexual partners within his network. Contact investigations include his place of employment.

His fear really intensified when we began to discuss the recommendations around how long to remain in isolation and telling his employer about his monkeypox, potentially leading to his outing as a gay man. He feared losing his employment when he was told he needed to isolate until all lesions had crusted and healed, and new skin had formed. For an individual not taking [antiviral] therapy, this could be three to four weeks, and for someone with therapy about two weeks.

There have been comparisons of monkeypox stigma to stigma faced by this community of people during the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. What are some parallels?

JF: Too many people currently at risk of monkeypox infection continue to face limited access to prevention treatment, and sex-positive harm reduction strategies. This fuels the dehumanization of a community who are fundamentally pro-science, pro-harm reduction, pro-vaccine, and are pleading for access to prevention and care services.

This harkens back 40 years to the beginning of the AIDS epidemic when the media and the world jumped on the gay community and the intersex community as pariahs of people causing AIDS.

Now, we know that HIV was circulating among heterosexual individuals for decades before we identified it in the gay population. Historically, monkeypox outbreaks are not centered within the gay community.

What vaccines do we have?

WM: There are two vaccines, the MVA-Bavarian Nordic, which is a live but nonreplicating vaccine, also called by its brand name JYNNEOS, and a live replicating smallpox vaccine called ACAM2000.

MVA-BN was originally created by the Department of Health and Human Services as an alternative vaccine against smallpox in the event of a smallpox bioterrorism event to be given to individuals who should not receive the live replicating vaccine, particularly people who are immunocompromised, or the many people who have things like eczema, which can be problematic.

There are not enough of the non-replicating JYNNEOS vaccine. On August 9, the FDA announced that they were going to permit fractional dosing, getting five doses out of one usual dose. There will still be two doses that people get [in the series].

The ACAM2000 is a much more reactogenic vaccine with a lot more side effects.

Why is the availability of these vaccines such an issue?

WM: The U.S. government is currently distributing about 1.1 million doses, but some experts estimate that we need at least 3.5 million doses, and that need may expand as transmission increases.

There have been missteps along the way. At one point, the U.S. government had about 20 million doses of the JYNNEOS vaccines stored in the national stockpile, but those expired.

There were delays in getting the 1.1 million doses that are currently being allocated by the U.S. government, delays in requesting these from the manufacturer Bavarian Nordic in Denmark, and then also delays in additional orders of the 5.5 million.

The U.S. government has invested more than $1 billion in this vaccine and reportedly owns about 16.5 million doses, but those doses were stored in bulk, not in the vaccine vials that we need in order to distribute these to the points of administration.

How can availability be fixed?

WM: The U.S. government is looking to contract another firm that can actually do what's called the fill and finishtaking the bulk vaccine and bottling, capping, and labeling it. That will expedite the availability of additional vaccines.

In some jurisdictions, there have been proposals or actual implementation of a delayed second dose. There is some concern about this because although we don't have great data, it's that second dose that really boosts the neutralizing antibody levels.

The biggest news lately has been fractionated intradermal dosing. On August 8, the FDA issued an emergency use authorization for the use of intradermal injection, which is one-fifth of those of the standard subcutaneous dose for people 18 years or older. There is a biological rationale for a lower dose of a vaccine administered intradermally because of the high abundance of immune reactive cells or antigen-presenting cells in the dermis. There are also long historical examples of using fractionated intradermal dosing for yellow fever, inactivated polio vaccine, rabies vaccine, and meningococcal vaccine. We have a fair amount of experience with this.

What does the distribution of monkeypox vaccines look like?

Using a similar framework for COVID-19 vaccines, there are four Ds essential to a successful and effective vaccine rollout: doses, delivery, demand, and data.

Once doses are available, we need mechanismsdeliveryto get them into eligible populations. Given the vaccine supply shortage, the JYNNEOS vaccine is recommended for post-exposure prophylaxis, or what's called expanded post-exposure prophylaxis for individuals with known or presumed exposure to someone with monkeypox or with behaviors or experiences that put them at risk.

Currently, it's not widely recommended that these vaccines be used or the JYNNEOS vaccine be used as what's called pre-exposure prophylaxis, although the CDC guidelines say that this can be considered, as vaccine supply shortages are remedied.

We have a very high demand right now, but we do need to ensure that going forwardparticularly among those most vulnerable groups and groups with suspicions of either vaccines or the governmentthat demand remains high as vaccine supplies improve.

[In terms of] data, we need to be able to know how many individuals have been vaccinated with one or two doses. This is our opportunity to learn about the effectiveness of these vaccines against monkeypox. We have very limited data, both with the subcutaneous administration and particularly with the intradermal administration.

The goal of our vaccination program is quite different from the one for COVID 19, where the primary goal was preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death. We're not seeing that with the current monkeypox outbreak. We just want to prevent infection.

If someone received a smallpox vaccination, what does that mean relative to monkeypox?

WM: Despite the fact that we're using vaccines designed for smallpox, there's not actually a whole lot of evidence around the protective efficacy of smallpox vaccines against monkeypox, although we know that there's a lot of cross-immunity with the different orthopoxviruses. One of the studies is from the early 1980s in the DRC, where they showed that individuals who had been previously vaccinated against smallpox had protection against monkeypox.

That said, smallpox vaccination ceased 50 years ago here in the U.S., and the duration of protection following smallpox vaccination is not lifelong. It's a function of how many doses an individual received and whether they had any boosting due to exposure to natural smallpox.

My sense would be that there's probably little to no protection conferred by prior smallpox vaccination 50 years ago or longer. There may be some protection against more severe disease. But again, we're not really seeing a lot of severe disease with this current monkeypox outbreak.

Amesh Adalja, MD, is a senior scholar at the Center for Health Security and an adjunct professor in Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He is also an affiliate of the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health.

Noreen Hynes, MD, is an associate professor in International Health; Population, Family and Reproductive Health; and Environmental Health and Engineering. She has a primary appointment with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

William J. Moss, MD, MPH, is the executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center, deputy director of the Malaria Research Institute, and a professor in the departments of Epidemiology, International Health, and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Read the original:

Monkeypox Outbreak: Testing, Vaccines, and More - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Latest figures confirm that over 25,000 people have been vaccinated with the smallpox vaccine, as part of the strategy to contain the monkeypox outbreak in the UK. These thousands of vaccines, administered by the NHS to those at highest risk of exposure, should have a significant impact on the transmission of the virus.

While anyone can get monkeypox, cases in the UK are predominantly in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), with the virus being passed on in closely connected sexual networks, and so the smallpox vaccine is being prioritised for those men at higher risk of getting the virus, as well as some contacts of cases and some healthcare professionals.

As of 10 August, around 27,000 people have been vaccinated by the NHS and in sexual health services in England, including 25,325 GBMSM. The remainder are those who have received the vaccine as part of the healthcare worker programme, and contacts of cases.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has secured one of the highest number of doses in the world to manage the current outbreak, procuring 150,000 doses for the UK from the global manufacturer of smallpox vaccines. The initial delivery of around 50,000 doses the maximum amount immediately available has been rolled out at pace to provide as much protection to as many eligible people as possible.

There are global issues with supply due to vaccine availability and the necessary time to produce more vaccines. This means the further batch of 100,000 doses, which are being made to order, will be received later in September. UKHSA is working with the manufacturer to expedite delivery as early as possible.

Out of the just over 50,000 doses that have arrived, about 40,000 have been made available to the NHS in England for distribution as part of the pre-exposure programme for GBMSM, for contacts of cases and for some healthcare workers. Around 6,000 have been allocated to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Crown Dependencies.

By the end of next week UKHSA will have allocated all of the remaining stock (around 5,000 doses as of 11 August) that is currently in the country to the NHS. At the same current rapid rate of delivery in NHS services, the majority of these doses will have been delivered to those identified to be at higher risk by the end of the month.

Until the delivery of further doses in September, the NHS and local partners will continue to vaccinate in line with any residual supplies, and to ensure that those who are not already in touch with services know where and how to access vaccination.

Sexual health services will keep a record of those eligible so that they can be invited forward for vaccination as soon as new supply becomes available.

UKHSA will continue to work with partners including Terrence Higgins Trust, and a wide range of other partners, to ensure people in the GBMSM community know the signs and symptoms of monkeypox, how to seek help if they have concerns and how to access vaccination.

If you think you may be eligible for a vaccination, please wait to be invited by the NHS.

Latest case figures show that the outbreak is beginning to slow with 3,017 cases across the UK; latest data shows 29 cases a day are now confirmed on average (1 to 7 August), compared to 52 cases a day during the last week in June. Whilst this is a positive sign, ongoing vigilance is urged, given its too soon to determine if this slowing will be sustained.

Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of UKHSA, said:

The most important way to protect those who are more likely to get monkeypox and to limit the outbreak is to ensure that all the vaccines available to us are in peoples arms as quickly as possible and are building protection across the community.

Id like to thank all those who have isolated as part of this outbreak in order to limit transmission of the virus, the thousands of people who have come forward for vaccination and all those in the NHS and sexual health services who have ensured the rapid delivery of the available vaccine this has strengthened our response to the current outbreak and should interrupt chains of transmission.

Jim McManus, President of The Association of Directors of Public Health, said:

Directors of Public Health are playing our part in efforts to deliver the vaccine to those who need it and we will continue to do so as long as stocks are available. We are also working with UKHSA and a range of partners nationally to help ensure that when more doses arrive, we will be able to deliver them as quickly, fairly and efficiently as possible.

In the meantime, it is vitally important that gay and bisexual men continue to access sexual health services, who are working incredibly hard to respond to the current outbreak of monkeypox alongside offering their usual services.

Dr Claire Dewsnap, British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) President, said:

Its fantastic that thousands of vaccines have been delivered, we thank individuals in at-risk communities for stepping up to be vaccinated and services making huge efforts to get vaccine out. We have been advised that the next currently planned delivery of vaccine wont be available until late September. BASHH is concerned about the time it will take to receive more vaccines and will continue to work hard with national agencies to make sure the next round of delivery is as smooth as possible.

While you are waiting for your vaccine, or if you have just received one, please remain alert to the symptoms of monkeypox, especially if you have had a new or multiple sexual partners. Symptoms can take up to 3 weeks to develop, so keep checking yourself after intimate contact with others. If you feel unwell, please speak to a sexual health service.

If you are a contact of a case whether you have been notified by a health protection team or directly by a previous partner please take a break from sex and intimate contact.

No vaccine is 100% effective. While the vaccine may not always prevent an individual getting monkeypox, the symptoms experienced are likely to be milder. The first dose prepares your immune system so it can respond much more quickly if you come into contact with monkeypox.

The vaccine also takes time to work. Protection will start to build after a few days and should reach highest levels after about 4 weeks.

Common signs and symptoms of monkeypox infection include fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, swollen lymph nodes, and development of a new rash. This could be asingle blister like spot (or a small number) on the genitals, anus and surrounding area, lesions in the mouth, and symptoms of proctitis (anal or rectal pain or bleeding).

In July, UKHSA guidance for close contacts of a confirmed monkeypox case was updated. Based on the growing evidence of how the monkeypox virus is being passed on in this outbreak, most close contacts no longer have to isolate for 21 days unless they develop symptoms.

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Update on vaccination to protect against monkeypox in England - GOV.UK

LATEST UPDATES. ALL RIGHT TONIGHT. IT IS A STORY. YOULL ONLY SEE ON WDSU AND INSIDE PERSPECTIVE ON HOW MONKEYPOX IS AFFECTING ONE LOCAL MAN. HE SHARED HIS STORY WITH WDSUS ELI BRAND ELI DESCRIBED THE PAIN THAT THIS MAN SAYS HE HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH AS HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS. KEEP AN EYE ON HOW THE DISEASE IS SPREADING WELL, SO HE SAYS THAT PAIN IS UNBEARABLE NOW HERE IN THE STATE THE LOUISIANA HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS THERE ARE 38 CASES OF MONKEYPOX RIGHT NOW MOST OF THOSE HERE IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA THAT MAN I SPOKE TO SAYS WHAT HES GOING THROUGH IS UNIMAGINABLE. THE PAIN THAT YOU RECEIVE FROM THAT ITS JUST ITS KIND OF INDESCRIBABLE. YEAH, SO I COULD MAYBE SLEEP. ONE TO TWO HOURS BEFORE GETTING WAKING UP IN THE PAIN BREAKS YOU UP THIS PATIENT. WE SPOKE TO DID NOT WANT TO GO ON CAMERA, BUT HE SAYS HIS MONKEYPOX FIGHT STARTED TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN HE FOUND A RASH. HE SAYS WHAT HES EXPERIENCED EVER SINCE THE DIAGNOSIS HAS BEEN UNBEARABLE JUST THE MENTAL HELL THAT YOU GO THROUGH IN YOUR HEAD TOO, YOU KNOW AGAIN NOT KNOWING AND WHEN IS IT GONNA END AND HOW AM I GONNA GET HELP THIS PAIN IS JUST ITS NOT STOPPING. YOU KNOW, I CANT REALLY EAT. I CANT RELAX. I CANT SLEEP. I CANT SIT. I CANT LAY DOWN. JUST IMAGINE ALL THOSE THINGS JUST HAPPENING ALL AT ONCE. IT WAS A LOT TO COME TO TERMS WITH HE SAYS LEGIONS FEEL LIKE GLASS STABBING HIS SKIN SOMETHING. HE SAYS HE WOULDNT WISH ON ANYONE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS SAY THE DISEASE IS NOT AIRBORNE LIKE COVID-19. YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO TYPE SOMEBODY WHEN YOU GET THIS IM YOU ACTUALLY GET THESE LITTLE VESICLES ON YOU WHICH ARE THE FANS WHERE IF THAT LOOKS LIKE LITTLE BUMPS WITH FLUID-FILLED BUMPS. THEY START OUT AS FLUID PHIL BUMPS. SOMETIMES GET CLOUDY THE BUMPS POP AND THEN EVENTUALLY SCAB OVER ITS NOT UNTIL THEYRE COMPLETELY YIELD THAT YOURE NO LONGER CONTAGIOUS THAT PATIENT HOPES TO BE BACK TO NORMAL ON TUESDAY, BUT IS ENCOURAGING EVERYONE ELIGIBLE TO GET VACCINATED AND STAY SAFE. ITS GOOD TO SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY, YOU KNOW BECAUSE ITS REALLY NOTHING TO MESS WITH. ITS A REALLY SCARY. ITS A SCARY TIME. NOW THE PEOPLE HERE IN LOUISIANA THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT MONKEY BOX VACCINE OR ANYONE THAT COMES IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE THAT IS ALREADY INFECTED WITH THE VIRUS REPOR

Monkeypox in Louisiana: What you need to know about numbers, vaccines, and more

Updated: 1:50 PM CDT Aug 15, 2022

The fear of monkeypox has been spreading throughout the state. Many have concerns about the virus but are unsure what it is and how to help prevent the spread. Monkeypox is a viral illness that typically involves flu-like symptoms, swelling of the lymph nodes, and a painful rash that includes fluid inside them before scabbing over. The Louisiana Department of Health offers insight on what monkeypox is and how to prevent it. Current monkeypox statistics in Louisiana: 108 total cases in Louisiana 5 new Louisiana infections84 cases in the New Orleans Metro area No confirmed deathsIs there a vaccine?Yes, JYNNEOS is the name of the FDA-approved monkeypox vaccine. It is two doses, administered 28 days apart. Full protection begins two weeks after the second shot.The monkeypox vaccine is available to those who are eligible at no cost.Who is eligible to receive the vaccine?There is a limited amount of monkeypox vaccines in Louisiana. Therefore, there are two groups currently eligible for the vaccine:Individuals with known exposuresIndividuals with likely high-risk exposures in the last 14 days.As of right now, individuals that are considered high-risk are:Individuals that are gay, bisexual, other (cis or trans) men who have sexual contact with men or transgender women and nonbinary persons assigned male at birth who have sexual contact with men and:Have had intimate or sexual contact with multiple or anonymous partners in the last 14 daysHave had intimate or sexual contact with other men in a social or sexual venue in the last 14 daysOR Individuals (of any sex/gender identity) who have given or received money or other goods/services in exchange for sex in the last 14 daysAnyone can contract monkeypox, and the current eligibility criteria are only limited to the above groups because they are most at risk based on the first diagnoses we have seen. However, the criteria will be expanded as additional vaccine becomes available and/or individuals from other groups are diagnosed.Click here for a list of locations in Louisiana where you can receive the monkeypox vaccine.How is monkeypox spread? Monkeypox is most commonly spread from one person to another, through direct contact with a rash or sores of someone with the virus.Monkeypox often gets confused as a sexually transmitted disease. Even though you can get monkeypox sexually, it is not an STD. Anyone can get monkeypox through direct contact with someone infected. You can also get monkeypox by wearing clothes, sharing bed sheets or sharing other items with someone infected. However, you can not spread monkeypox if you do not have any symptoms. What are the symptoms? Symptoms of monkeypox can include:FeverHeadacheMuscle aches and backacheSwollen lymph nodesChillsExhaustionA rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus How to prevent the spread of monkeypox:Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people with a rash that looks like monkeypox.Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox.Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sexual contact with someone with monkeypox.Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox.Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox.Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.If you do not feel well or have an unusual rash or sores, take a break from going to bars, gyms, clubs, and other events.What to do if you have symptoms: Be sure to wear a mask and cover any lesions if you have a rash, and contact your health care provider immediately. Avoid sexual or close intimate contact with anyone until you have been checked. If you have symptoms and would like to be tested for monkeypox, contact your health care provider. Anyone without a provider or insurance can also be tested at their local parish health clinic. Click here to find a clinic in a parish near you. Self-isolate until you hear back on your test results or if you test positive. To learn more about monkeypox, go to Monkeypox | La Dept. of Health.

The fear of monkeypox has been spreading throughout the state. Many have concerns about the virus but are unsure what it is and how to help prevent the spread.

Monkeypox is a viral illness that typically involves flu-like symptoms, swelling of the lymph nodes, and a painful rash that includes fluid inside them before scabbing over.

The Louisiana Department of Health offers insight on what monkeypox is and how to prevent it.

Yes, JYNNEOS is the name of the FDA-approved monkeypox vaccine. It is two doses, administered 28 days apart. Full protection begins two weeks after the second shot.

The monkeypox vaccine is available to those who are eligible at no cost.

There is a limited amount of monkeypox vaccines in Louisiana. Therefore, there are two groups currently eligible for the vaccine:

As of right now, individuals that are considered high-risk are:

Individuals that are gay, bisexual, other (cis or trans) men who have sexual contact with men or transgender women and nonbinary persons assigned male at birth who have sexual contact with men and:

OR Individuals (of any sex/gender identity) who have given or received money or other goods/services in exchange for sex in the last 14 days

Anyone can contract monkeypox, and the current eligibility criteria are only limited to the above groups because they are most at risk based on the first diagnoses we have seen. However, the criteria will be expanded as additional vaccine becomes available and/or individuals from other groups are diagnosed.

Click here for a list of locations in Louisiana where you can receive the monkeypox vaccine.

Monkeypox is most commonly spread from one person to another, through direct contact with a rash or sores of someone with the virus.

Monkeypox often gets confused as a sexually transmitted disease. Even though you can get monkeypox sexually, it is not an STD.

Anyone can get monkeypox through direct contact with someone infected. You can also get monkeypox by wearing clothes, sharing bed sheets or sharing other items with someone infected.

However, you can not spread monkeypox if you do not have any symptoms.

Symptoms of monkeypox can include:

Be sure to wear a mask and cover any lesions if you have a rash, and contact your health care provider immediately.

Avoid sexual or close intimate contact with anyone until you have been checked.

If you have symptoms and would like to be tested for monkeypox, contact your health care provider. Anyone without a provider or insurance can also be tested at their local parish health clinic. Click here to find a clinic in a parish near you.

Self-isolate until you hear back on your test results or if you test positive.

To learn more about monkeypox, go to Monkeypox | La Dept. of Health.

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Monkeypox in Louisiana: What you need to know about numbers, vaccines, and more - WDSU New Orleans

Wisconsins public health providers are working to distribute vaccines to guard against monkeypox, the viral illness that has become the subject of a national public health emergency. The initial focus is on people thought to be most at risk for the illness.

The vaccine, which the federal government has been distributing as clusters of the illness have broken out in the U.S. and worldwide, is being sent to designated hubs in Eau Claire, Green Bay, Madison and Milwaukee. From there it will be distributed to local clinics, health departments and other providers, said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, chief medical officer for the state bureau of communicable diseases in the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS).

Westergaard spoke with reporters in a briefing Wednesday.

Because of limited stores of the vaccine, the first priority for the initial doses that the state is receiving will be people at the highest risk, Westergaard said. Currently Wisconsin has been allocated just under 6,000 doses from the federal government, with more expected to become available starting Aug. 15, he said.

DHS has also adopted a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued Tuesday that the vaccine can be administered in the skin rather than under the skin. A dose of 0.1 milliliter appears to provide immune protection that is about as effective as the standard dose given under the skin, which is 0.5 milliliters, Westergaard said. That makes it possible to adequately vaccinate five times as many people with the current supplies as would be expected.

We have more people who can benefit from vaccines than we have doses for, Westergaard said. So the ability to stretch our vaccine that much farther is a great opportunity.

Monkeypox is a form of the orthopox virus that also includes smallpox. The illness has in a matter of a few months begun turning up in every country, including the U.S., where it has been found across the nation. Wisconsin has recorded 32 cases so far, he said.

Monkeypox is not classified as a sexually transmitted infection, but the current outbreaks have largely centered on networks of gay and bisexual men as well as some transgender and nonbinary people, he said, where it is apparently spreading in part through sexual contact. Those populations have been particularly affected by the recent outbreak, and for that reason, they are among the highest priority for the vaccine.

That doesnt mean they are unusually susceptible, Westergaard said just that their social networks have afforded the virus the opportunity to spread. And DHS has been meeting and conferring with colleges and university student health clinics and administrators about risk factors and planning to avoid outbreaks.

Shots are also being prioritized for people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other conditions that have weakened their immune system, he said.

Current CDC guidance calls for giving vaccine priority to recently exposed or infected people along with at-risk people not infected. Researchers have found administering the vaccine even to someone already exposed or infected can ward off a more severe infection.

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Wisconsin works to distribute monkeypox vaccine to areas where risk is highest, health department says - Wisconsin Examiner

White House declares monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency

As monkeypox cases rise across the states, the Biden administration says they are taking additional steps to stop the spread of the virus.

Ariana Triggs, USA TODAY

Corrections and clarifications: A previous version of this story mischaracterized the number of monkeypox vaccine doses Indiana has been allocated.

As the number of monkeypox cases grows, so does the public health threat.

Monkeypox is a viral disease in the same family as smallpox, though monkeypox is generally milder than smallpox and rarely fatal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

President Joe Biden's administration declared monkeypox a national public health emergency last Thursday.

"I remain committed to our monkeypox response: ramping-up vaccine distribution, expanding testing, and educating at-risk communities," the president said in a tweet. "That's why today's public health emergency declaration on the virus is critical to confronting this outbreak with the urgency it warrants."

Addressing myths about monkeypox:A look at symptoms, treatment and other common questions

As of Monday, there were 77 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Indiana and nearly 9,000 in the United States, according to the CDC.

Like many other states, Indiana has seen an increase in monkeypox cases over the past month,State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said in a July 29 news release. Monkeypox does not easily spread through brief casual contact, but its important to remember that anyone can be affected if they are a close contact of a positive case. Hoosiers who believe they may have been exposed or who develop symptoms consistent with monkeypox are urged to contact a healthcare provider.

Here's what to know about the virus and the vaccine.

Symptoms of monkeypox usually begin within three weeks after exposure, according to the CDC.

Symptoms can include fever, headache, chills, muscle and back aches, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion and respiratory symptoms. Most people with monkeypox will also develop a rash, which can resemble blisters or pimples, that can spread to various parts of the body. The illness generally lasts between two and four weeks, and the person is no longer contagious once a fresh layer of skin develops over the scabs.

Direct skin-to-skin contact with the monkeypox rash, sores or scabs of a currently infected person is believed to be the most common way the virus is spreading, according to an information sheet from the CDC.

However, contact with surfaces or objects that have come into contact with the monkeypox scabs, in addition to contact with respiratory secretions through kissing or other close contact, is also a method of transmission. Pregnant people can spread the disease to their fetus.

Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease. It is transmitted via skin-to-skin contact, which can occur during sex, but is not specific to sexual activity.

The JYNNEOS vaccine, also known as Imvamune or Imvanex, protects against smallpox and monkeypox infection in adults 18 and older. It's a two-dose vaccine, with the second shot administered at least four weeks after the first.

Past data from Africa suggests that the smallpox vaccine is at least 85% effective at preventing people from being infected with monkeypox, according to the CDC.

Vaccination before exposure is aimed at preventing infection, but experts believe that vaccination soon after exposure may help prevent the disease or at least severe illness.

Experts recommend vaccination as soon as possible after being exposed, and CDC recommends vaccination within four days after exposure to prevent disease. Vaccines given between four and 14 days after exposure could prevent severe illness, but not necessarily infection.

It's a misconception that monkeypox will only affect people living with HIV or men who have sex with men, Alan Witchey, CEO and president of the Damien Center, said, although there is a higher rate of infection among these groups, in part because those living with HIV are immunocompromised and are more susceptible to infection.

People living with HIV who regularly take antiretroviraldrugs can become virally suppressed, meaning that the viral load is low enough that it prevents illness and cannot be transmitted to other people.

More:Monkeypox is not a gay disease. But LGBTQ leaders say they need more help for gay men and everyone else

Overall, 65% of people living with HIV are virally suppressed, Witchey said. However, that leaves many others who have not reached viral suppression. So those people, because of their compromised immune systems, are more susceptible to contracting monkeypox.

"There are definitely people who are not gay men or don't identify as gay or bi men that are getting infected with monkeypox," Witchey said. "It does not discriminate by your sexual identity or sexual orientation. It actually is just as contagious amongst anyone."

According to the IDOH website, "Indiana has only been allocated a small amount meant to be used primarily to treat people who have been a close contact of a case to prevent severe disease."

Indiana has so far been allocated nearly 12,000 doses of the vaccine, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Vaccines are still in limited supply, Megan Wade-Taxter, spokesperson for IDOH, told IndyStar, and supply is being reserved for those who have been exposed or people who are more likely to get monkeypox.

Witchey said the Damien Center, which was given over 300 doses to distribute in late July, is currently putting highest priority on men living with HIV who have sex with men who are not virally suppressed or have low CD4 counts.

Fact check:Altered image shows fabricated magazine headline about monkeypox stigma

The second highest-priority group is men living with HIV who have sex with men who are virally suppressed and then the third and broadest category is men who have sex with men generally.

To request more information about the monkeypox vaccine and be notified when availability widens, register at this link: bit.ly/3QpuAkj The state health department will notify you via text when vaccines and clinics in your area become available.

For updates on vaccine clinics, visit the health department's website: bit.ly/3QfPyS.

Contact IndyStar trending reporter Claire Rafford at crafford@gannett.com or on Twitter@clairerafford.

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What is monkeypox? Here's how to get vaccine in Indiana - IndyStar

August 9, 2022

Vaccines meant to help prevent monkeypox are now available on a limited, targeted basis across the state, according to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH).

Public health experts are tracking an outbreak of monkeypox that has spread across several countries that dont normally report the disease, including the United States. No cases related to this outbreak have yet been identified among Wyoming residents.

Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist with WDH, said monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. This disease is usually characterized by a rash and can also involve other symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and tiredness, she said.

Harrist noted monkeypox is rarely fatal but can be unpleasant and painful and can cause serious illness in some people.

Monkeypox can spread to anyone through close, personal contact, she said. Fortunately, it does not spread nearly as easily as do familiar viruses such as influenza or COVID-19.

Were recommending vaccination for people who have been exposed to monkeypox and also for people who may be more likely to get monkeypox based on the current outbreak and how it has been spreading, Harrist said. While anyone can get monkeypox, vaccine eligibility is limited at this point to those people who are at highest risk due to limited supplies.

The following adults are eligible for pre-exposure vaccination if they live or work in Wyoming:

Vaccinations will begin the week of August 15. Eligible adults interested in vaccination appointments should contact the public health office in their area. A listing of Wyoming public health offices by county can be found at https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/nursing/phn-co-offices/.

While available monkeypox vaccine doses are being provided by the federal government through the state at no charge, a small administration fee may be charged.

Monkeypox is related to smallpox with similar but milder symptoms. Monkeypox is not related to chickenpox.

More Wyoming-related information and updates about monkeypox can be found at

https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/infectious-disease-epidemiology-unit/disease/monkeypox/.

Detailed facts, prevention recommendations and data about the virus are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.html.

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Limited, Targeted Vaccines to Prevent Monkeypox Available - Wyoming Department of Health

What's happening

The monkeypox outbreak is a global and national public health emergency.

To stop monkeypox from becoming a disease that regularly circulates in the US, we need to slow the outbreak with tools like vaccines and testing.

Anyone can get monkeypox, but men who have sex with men are currently the people most impacted. If you have an unexplained sore or think you may have been exposed, seek medical care.

The monkeypox outbreak is still growing as dozens of countries continue reporting cases. As of the end of last week, there have been more than 11,000 cases in the US alone.

To reflect that monkeypox is no longer a regional illness concentrated in African countries, the World Health Organization announced Friday that it has changed the names of the two monkeypox variants or "clades" from the Congo Basin/Central Africa clade to "Clade I" and the West African clade to "Clade II." Clade II is the one currently circulating in the outbreak, it has two subvariants and it's typically less severe than Clade I.

The WHO also said that it's still working on finding a new name for monkeypox, which was named before current practices on naming viruses and diseases were in place. Anyone can submit a new name idea by creating an account through the WHO.

Monkeypoxis a disease caused by an orthopoxvirus that belongs to the same family as the viruses that cause smallpox and cowpox. It's endemic in West and Central Africa, and reports of it in the US have been rare but not unheard of. (There were two reported cases in 2021 and47 cases in 2003during an outbreak linked to pet prairie dogs.) It's a zoonotic disease, which means it's transmitted from animals to humans. The way monkeypox is spreading effectively between people is new to this global outbreak.

Monkeypox symptoms might also be a little different compared with earlier outbreaks, and the disease appears to be spreading by way of "new modes of transmission, about which we understand too little," WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesussaidduring a July 23press conference. The CDC has warned that some cases of monkeypox might be getting missed in testing, and that the monkeypox rash could be mistaken for other common infections, like herpes.

Because most cases of monkeypox are occurring in men who have sex with men, there's a current link to sexual contact, and the WHO and the CDC have issued recommendations for safer sex for those who are at higher risk of getting monkeypox, including encouraging the exchange of contact information with sexual partners in case there's an exposure. But it's important to remember that anyone can get monkeypox, and the myth that only gay men are affected could have lasting consequences, including ignoring the potential spread of the outbreak in other populations.

"Stigma and discrimination can be as dangerous as any virus," Tedros said.

Here's what to know about monkeypox.

Examples of monkeypox "pox" or rashes.

As of early August, monkeypox is apublic health emergency in the US. The declaration willopen up more funding and resourcesneeded to respond to the outbreak, including vaccines, testing and treatments. The Biden administration announced the formation of a White Housemonkeypox response teamto advise the administration on how to stop the outbreak.

"We are applying lessons learned from the battles we've fought -- from COVID response to wildfires to measles, and will tackle this outbreak with the urgency this moment demands," White House National Monkeypox Response Coordinator Robert Fenton said in apress release.

The federal responses come aftercriticismover inadequatevaccine accessand testing, and a general lack of awareness of the outbreak. The US Department of Health and Human Services said last week that anadditional 786,000 dosesof monkeypox vaccine will soon be available to states. The CDC last monthannouncedthat the number of tests US labs could run for monkeypox grew from 6,000 to 80,000 specimens per week.

"This should end," Dr. Eric Cioe-Pena, director of global health for New York's Northwell Health,told Healthline. "If it becomes endemic, it's a failure of public health."

The test involves taking aswab from a lesion or soreto test for the virus that causes monkeypox. For people who first develop flulike symptoms before lesions or sores appear, that may meanwaiting for lesions or "pox" to appear. But if you have symptoms, get tested and isolate at home.

If you were exposed to monkeypox but don't have any symptoms, you don't need to isolate, according to the CDC. But you should continue to monitor yourself for symptoms and take your temperature twice daily, if you can.

The CDC advises reminding your health care provider that monkeypox is circulating. If you think you have monkeypox but are turned down for a test, don't be afraid to seek a second or third opinion to get the care you need.Testing availability is expandingas the outbreak progresses, but because symptoms can vary and monkeypox was previously rare in the US, health providers may initially mistake it for other illnesses.

Symptoms of monkeypox in humans are similar to (but usually significantly milder than) those ofsmallpox, which the WHO declared eliminated in 1980.

A monkeypox infection can begin with flulike symptoms -- including fatigue, headache, fever and swollen lymph nodes -- followed by a rash, but some people will only develop the rash, according to the CDC. The monkeypox rash or individual sores can look like pimples or blisters and can be found pretty much anywhere on the body, including the hands, genitals, face, chest and inside the mouth or anus. Lesions can be flat or raised, full of clear or yellowish fluid and will eventuallydry up and fall off.

You can spread monkeypox until the sores heal and a new layer of skin forms, according to the CDC. Illness typically lasts for two to four weeks. The incubation period ranges from five to 21 days, according to the CDC, which means people will most likely develop symptoms within three weeks of being exposed. For some people, monkeypox lesions can be very painful.

Monkeypox doesn't have the same ability to infect people that the virus that causes COVID-19 has, says Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious-disease expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Monkeypox is generally understood to not be contagious during the incubation period (the time between being exposed and symptoms appearing), so it "doesn't have that ability to spread the way certain viruses like flu or SARS-CoV-2 can," Adalja said, referring to the coronavirus.

Monkeypoxspreads between peopleprimarily through contact with infectious sores, scabs or bodily fluids, according to the CDC, but it can also spread through prolonged face-to-face contact via respiratory droplets or by touching contaminated clothing or bedding. (Think the close contact you'd have with a sexual partner, the contact you have with strangers dancing at a club, or the contact you have with a household member whom you kiss, hug or share towels with.) Research is underway on whether (or how well) monkeypox can be spread through semen or vaginal fluid.

The "close" in close contact is a key element in the transmission of monkeypox. That, along with the fact that the virus that causes monkeypox appears to have a slower reproduction rate than the COVID-19 virus, sets it apart from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said in June at a media briefing.

The majority of the cases in the US recently have been in men who have sex with men, the CDC says. Gay and bisexual communities tend to have particularly "high awareness and rapid health-seeking behavior when it comes to their and their communities' sexual health," Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, the WHO's regional director for Europe, said in astatementat the end of May, noting that those who sought early health care services should be applauded.

To help slow the spread of the disease, Tedros, the WHO director-general, on Wednesday said men who have sex with men should consider temporarily reducing the number of sexual partners they have, ormaking sure they get the contact information of all sexual partners, in case of an exposure.

The CDC issuedrecommendations regarding safer sex and monkeypox if there's a chance you or a partner might have monkeypox and you decide to still have sex. The guidance includes alternatives to sex like mutual masturbation or virtual sex, avoiding kissing, and generally avoiding skin-to-skin contact.

Depending on where they live, people at higher risk of catching monkeypox, including men with multiple recent sexual partners, may be able to get a monkeypox vaccine. However, supply has been limited and some people have reported trouble securing an appointment.

There are two clades or types of monkeypox virus, according to the WHO: the recently renamed Clade I and Clade II. Clade II, which has been identified in the recent cases, has had a fatality rate of less than 1% in the past. No deaths have been reported in the US. Clade I has a higher mortality rate of up to 10%, according to the WHO.

Though the circulating strain of monkeypox israrely fatal, according to the CDC, it can be very painful and may result in some scarring. Pregnant people, younger children, people with weakened immune systems and those with a history of eczema may be more likely to get seriously ill.

Antiviral medication like tecovirimat (TPOXX) can be used in people who are at risk of getting severely sick from monkeypox, according to the CDC. This treatment isn't approved specifically for monkeypox (it's meant for treating smallpox) andaccess to it has been restricted with paperwork and strict ordering instructions. However, the CDC recentlyloosened restrictions around the drug.

Monkeypox lesions progress through a series of stages before scabbing, according to the CDC. Though traditionally the rash starts on the face before becoming more widespread, monkeypox blemishes can be limited, resemble a pimple or other sore and aren't always necessarily accompanied by flulike symptoms.

Yes. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Jynneos to prevent smallpox andmonkeypox. Because monkeypox is so closely related to smallpox, vaccines for smallpox are also effective against monkeypox. In addition to Jynneos, the US has another smallpox vaccine in its stockpile, called ACAM2000. Because ACAM2000 is an older generation of vaccine with harsher side effects, it's not recommended for everyone, including people who are pregnant or immunocompromised.

Jynneos is the vaccine currently available to people who are at higher risk of getting monkeypox, or may have already been exposed to it. The FDA recently authorized a new way of giving people Jynneos that will stretch out the limited supply through intradermal vaccination, which requires a lower dose of vaccine compared to subcutaneous injection. (Basically, now people will get the vaccine under a top layer of skin as opposed to the standard shot that goes right into the arm.)

Vaccinating people who've been exposed to monkeypox is what Adalja calls "ring vaccination," where health officials isolate the infected person and vaccinate their close contacts to stop the spread. But vaccinating people with a confirmed exposure, in addition to people at risk of being exposed in the near future, may be crucial to getting control of the outbreak, according to the White House's chief medical adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Dr. Daniel Pastula, chief of neuroinfectious diseases and associate professor of neurology, medicine and epidemiology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, said the vaccine is used in people who've been exposed but aren't yet showing symptoms of monkeypox, because the incubation period for the disease is so long.

"Basically what you're doing is stimulating the immune system with the vaccine, and getting the immune system to recognize the virus before the virus has a chance to ramp up," Pastula said.

Though health care and lab professionals who work directly with monkeypox are recommended to receive smallpox vaccines (and even boosters), the original smallpox vaccines aren't available to the general public and haven't been widely administered in the US since the early 1970s. Because of this, any spillover or "cross-protective" immunity from smallpox vaccines would be limited to older people, theWHO said.

Read more about what we know about the monkeypox vaccine.

Now playing: Watch this: Monkeypox Explained: What You Need to Know

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The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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Monkeypox Outbreak: What to Know About Variants and More - CNET

NEW YORK - As we continue to fight the monkeypox outbreak, city officials are holding a town hall in the Bronx to go over vaccination sites, testing and preventative measures.

It's happening at 5:30 p.m. at the New Settlement Community Center.

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There are now more than 2,000 confirmed cases of monkeypox across New York City, with the majority of them in Manhattan.

Over the weekend, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine tweeted that more than 6,000 vaccination appointments were posted, and they were gone in an hour.

He said there needs to be more vaccine supply as soon as possible.

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Town hall in the Bronx will tackle monkeypox vaccination sites, testing and more - CBS New York