Starting this topic to cover new and resurgent infectious diseases we need to know about and what to do about them, if anything, beginning with Monkeypox, the return of polio to NYC, and anything else.
Putting some info here, but had wanted to start a new thread regarding all viral resurgences (@jeanne-mayell - couldn't see how to do that, sorry). Specifically replying to @lovendures re: polio found in NY
Everyone in the US, as far as I know, is vaccinated and boosted for polio as a young child with only very few exceptions, usually religious in nature. It's unclear whether immunity is lifelong. Here is what I found from CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/polio/hcp/effectiveness-duration-protection.html
Good news is that in NY in particular, the anti-vax community is most strongly in the Orthodox Jewish community, which sticks to themselves, so it's unlikely to spread beyond that. More good news is that polio boosters should not be too hard to find, as we still give that one to young kids here.
As for MONKEYPOX - Some facts I uncovered:
- chickenpox infection or vaccination is NOT protective
- smallpox vaccination is more than 85% protective
- according to article linked below, smallpox vax protection may last for decades (like 8 decades)
- smallpox vax in the US is currently only given to military members in case of bioterrorism
- smallpox no longer exists 'in the wild' globally, so in US we stopped immunizing for it in 1971
- monkeypox & small pox are very similar, and not related to other viruses like chickenpox, measles, etc.
- Smallpox vaccine is actually live Vaccinia virus - aka cowpox (and it always has been!)
- monkeypox (smallpox) vaxxes are being offered to members of the LGBTQ+ community who have been exposed first. General public is not currently eligible.
- Highest number of cases is in CA currently, especially in San Francisco, and highest rate of infection is in men who have sex with men (this is not a slur-this stat can be located on the CA Dept. of Health site).
- The US government has not acted quickly enough to react effectively to this next long-expected pandemic.
- Monkeypox really is droplet based (unlike COVID, which is both droplet and true airborne but mostly airborne).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2610468/
I for one am not yet terribly worried about either disease right now. Keep up with your precautions. I continue to:
- Travel less, and target areas with lower infection rates (definitely avoid Rockland/Orange county area of NYS)
- Wear a mask indoors in public spaces always
- Socialize outdoors when possible, same for concerts, etc.
- Wear a mask outdoors in crowded areas
- Wash all groceries - my family started doing this in 1918, and I have re-embraced the practice
- Wear gloves outside the house in public areas where I touch stuff (e.g., stores, gas stations, office buildings, etc.)
If you want to know what the OLD precautions for avoiding polio were, they consisted of:
- Avoid travel to infected areas (right now that is mostly Africa & Asia but may include the Middle East))
- Avoid public spaces involving water - i.e., waterparks, pools, amusement parks, etc.
- Make sure you and your kids got the full series as youngsters.
A modern precaution that may end up helping all of us:
Doctors can order titre blood tests for all of these viruses to see if you are still immune, so ask if you are worried.
Found a good link to info re: California Monkeypox Emergency
https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2022/08/01/emergency-declaration-monkeypox-vaccines
Thanks Laura, great thread!
Regarding polio vaccinations, it really depends upon the state. I know in AZ, vaccinations have had not only religious beliefs exemptions here , but also person belief exemptions. Personal could really be anything from "I believe they actually do harm" to well, almost anything. Not sure what they are currently but I wonder if ANY will be mandated here after Covid. There are some other states like that though I don't know how many.
Today Pres. Biden declared Monkeypox a national emergency. Spoiler alert: no extra precautions being taken, so this will end up another public health fail. It may free up some vaccine and funding, but not enough.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/04/politics/monkeypox-public-health-emergency/index.html
Apologize that I never seem to have great news to share here, however there is a new virus emerging in China that has jumped from animals to humans, called Langya.
No need for alarm, but it bears watching, because with climate change, this is how things are going to be going, and even though right now Langya is not an international threat, it could mutate, as could many other viruses.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/langya-virus-china-1.6550062
Thank you, we do need to be alert. There is some good news on tick borne disease front that I am happy to impart; a vaccine that protects against multiple, terrible diseases is on the horizon.