YORK, Pa. — The recent declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) of MPOX as a global health emergency has sparked concerns worldwide.
While the emergency was declared due to the emergence of a deadlier strain of the virus in Africa, many are questioning whether individuals in Pennsylvania should be worried about potential cases in the state.
MPOX, also known as monkeypox, has drawn the attention of US health officials, prompting them to closely monitor the situation.
"In Africa, MPOX or monkeypox often involves transmission from animals to people," said Dr. John Goldman, an infectious disease expert at UPMC. He further explained that most of the reported cases of MPOX have been found in a specific group, particularly men who have sex with men, especially those with multiple partners.
One of the distinguishing features of MPOX is the development of hard, filled, and red lesions on body parts that have had contact with existing lesions. In addition to lesions, individuals may experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, and sweats.
However, the more aggressive strain of MPOX has not yet been detected in the United States.
Despite fears of its potential spread to the US, Dr. Goldman expressed skepticism about the possibility of a widespread outbreak similar to that of 2022, emphasizing that MPOX spreads through direct contact and is unlikely to have the same impact as diseases like COVID-19 or smallpox.
Addressing concerns about the name change from monkeypox to MPOX, the UN health agency cited the need to eliminate "racist and stigmatizing language" associated with the former term. Following the spread of monkeypox to over 100 countries, concerns arose about the discriminatory connotations of the name.
Dr. Goldman emphasized the behavioral aspect of the disease, stating, "It’s not a matter of race but behavior, so there hasn’t been any kind of economic, racial, socioeconomic correlate. It’s just people who are engaging in high-risk behavior."