Health officials are ‘cautiously optimistic’ about the monkeypox outbreak

Globally, new cases are down 21 percent from last week. The World Health Organization reported on Thursday.

Although public health experts have encouraged a slowdown in new infections, they have warned that the virus continues to pose a threat — especially in small communities outside US cities and in developing countries due to a lack of vaccines, limited surveillance and inadequate testing — and may continue to grow. The gay and bisexual community. Epidemiologists and health officials also report ongoing challenges with the White House’s new vaccine strategy to expand the number of doses available.

Director-General of the World Health Organization, Theodore Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: “There are signs that the epidemic is slowing down in Europe. But they warned that new cases are on the rise in places like Latin America, where awareness of the virus is low and access to vaccines is limited.

Ann Rimon, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, who has studied monkeypox, said that after raising awareness and pushing for a vaccine, a decline in cases is expected. “Whether that will continue or not, we don’t know,” she said.

Biden administration officials have said they are concerned about local trends, with new virus cases emerging from urban centers in some regions. Monkey disease in Georgia jumped 66 percent between Aug. 10 and 24, compared to just 41 percent in New York City, the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, in a two-week period, according to state and local health department data.

New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan said officials are “keenly optimistic” that the virus is in retreat after nearly 2,900 New Yorkers have been infected in the past three months. New York City saw nearly 40 new cases a day last week, compared with more than 70 a day earlier this month.

Vasan said, “In recent days, we have seen cases start to fall and transmission slow They testified. In front of the New York City Council on Wednesday, thanks to the increase in vaccinations and changes in sexual behavior. “All of this is clearly catching on and having a positive impact in reducing this epidemic.” Officials in cities like San Francisco and Chicago echoed similar messages this week.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported This week, gay men have improved their risky sexual behaviors because of the pandemic, citing an online survey that found that about half of men who have sex with men have cut down on one-time sex and sex with partners through dating apps or sex sites. Experts say the US outbreak may have been fueled by dance parties and casual sex during Pride Month in June.

“Behavior change, along with vaccination, can help slow the spread and stop monkeypox,” a CDC spokesperson said. Kristen Nordlund said in a statement. She said the US data includes data from many states, “some of which continue to increase their case counts, and continued vigilance and action is still necessary.”

State and local health officials say they need more funding to raise public awareness, and are pushing the Biden administration to provide more support for the response. about the virus, Hire more staff to carry out testing and contact tracing, and invest more to strengthen health units that are aging in the two years of fighting the coronavirus.

Michael Fraser, CEO of the Association of State and Territory Health Officials, said: “We appreciate the efforts of federal agencies to provide greater flexibility to use additional funding for COVID-19. Letter It was shared with The Washington Post. “However, given the scale and scope of the epidemic … it is clear that this short-term solution will not work in the long term.

Fraser told the Post that an additional $500 million to $1 billion is needed over the next 12 months to support state and local monkey disease responses. He suggested that the Biden administration work with Congress to create an emergency funding package or provide additional funding through the CDC’s Infectious Disease Rapid Response Reserve Fund.

Experts continue to voice concerns about the Biden administration’s vaccine strategy. Extending limited supply Divide each single-use vial into five doses with a separate injection method. In the year The plan, which was quickly completed on August 9, has been welcomed by some local officials as an innovative way to meet rising demand. But there are many regional and local authorities Dealing with logistical problems Apply it.

“I’ve heard a lot of reports from my state and local colleagues that it’s very difficult to get five doses out of one vaccine valve right now,” said Kathleen Rivers, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins. By A Posted on her Substack page last weekCriticizing the sudden change in strategy. “Together, state and local health authorities now own up to one-third. Less Amounts used in their communities than before the transition to internal management.

The chairman of the Senate health panel has urged the Department of Health and Human Services to close “shocking” supply gaps in vaccines, both for the current monkeypox response and for future outbreaks.

“The administration must do more to address unacceptable shortages in vaccine availability, develop comprehensive distribution and communication strategies, and develop long-term procurement plans,” wrote Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). Letter Tuesday to Dawn O’Connell, the assistant HHS secretary who oversees the vaccine stockpile.

[Inside America’s monkeypox crisis — and the mistakes that made it worse]

The White House has defended the vaccination strategy, saying 75 percent of jurisdictions around the country have adopted the new approach. Dividing the amount by a fifth would allow the United States to provide more than 3 million total doses of the vaccine, meaning “we are in a very good position to meet the needs of the population at risk and we are provided,” a White House official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing policies and internal discussions. CDC officials previously estimated that at least 3.2 million vaccines would be needed to cover gay and bisexual men.

Administration officials also said that despite weeks of complaints about limited vaccine supplies, many local authorities have yet to fully utilize their vaccine supplies. As of Wednesday, only 11 of the nation’s 67 states had used at least 85 percent of their vaccine supplies, according to a White House official.

Biden officials have emphasized their work to prevent potential outbreaks like the latest incident. A day care worker in Illinois has been diagnosed with monkeypoxIt could have exposed about 60 people, including several dozen children. The worker served as a home health aide for an elderly man.

The situation shocked the White House, and Biden administration officials, fearing an outbreak among children, rushed dozens of vaccinations to people who could be exposed. Three weeks later, there have been no additional infections linked to the day care worker, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Administrator Julie Pride told The Post.

Lena H. Son contributed to this report.