Miami, Jul 8 The cases of monkeypox confirmed so far in the United States total 700, of which 136 correspond to California and 131 to New York, the states where the outbreak is having the highest incidence, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday. (CDC).
The figures from that government body include the accumulated since the first confirmed case, registered in Massachusetts and reported on May 23, until this Thursday, July 7.
Illinois, with 91; Florida, with 72, and the District of Columbia, with 60, are in third, fourth and fifth place on the list of states most affected by this disease of African origin.
There are still several states with a single case, as well as the commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Monkeypox cases worldwide have increased 77% in a week and now stand at 6,027 in 59 countries, according to figures released Thursday by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Since the outbreak broke out last May, there have been three fatal cases.
This outbreak is of concern because it is the first time that this disease, which is spread by intimate or very close contact, has been seen outside of West or Central Africa, where it is endemic.
73% of global cases correspond to men with an average age of 37 years.
In the US, in late June, the CDC announced that it will extend monkeypox vaccination coverage to all people who suspect they have had contact with an infected person.
To this end, 240,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine, specific against monkeypox, will be distributed in the different states of the country in the coming weeks.
The goal is to have 1.6 million vaccines available before the end of the year to stop transmission.
“Post-exposure vaccination is aimed at reducing the risk of getting infected and then getting sick. It should happen within two weeks of a possible exposure, and the sooner one can get vaccinated after exposure, the better,” explained the director of the CDC, Rochelle Walensky.
The vaccines will be offered as a priority to all risk groups, which include people who have had close physical contact with an infected person, who have had an infected sexual partner or who have had sexual relations in a place where a virus has been identified. monkeypox outbreak. EFE
ar/lce/cpy
–
