Monkeypox: Centers for Disease Control shares facts on the latest viral disease

In May 2022, a global outbreak of monkeypox - a rare viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus - was confirmed with a cluster of cases found in the United Kingdom. Since then, countries around the world have seen an uptick in monkeypox cases, including the United States.

While monkeypox cases are increasing across the country, the general population is currently at low risk of contracting the disease.  The spread of monkeypox is different from the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic for the following reasons:

• There is a vaccine for monkeypox.
• Monkeypox can be treated with available antiviral medicines.
• While COVID-19 passed easily from person to person, monkeypox does not spread as easily between people. Monkeypox transmission typically requires skin-to-skin contact, direct contact with body fluids, or prolonged face-to-face contact.

For more information on Monkeypox locally, call Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee County Public Health at 563-568-5660.