Massachusetts health officials have announced 37 more monkeypox cases in the last week, bringing the state’s total to 317.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health provides monkeypox updates on Thursdays. Last week’s report also brought 37 new cases. With an increase of about 13.2%, it’s the third straight week in which the rate of new cases declined.
The department noted that 18,989 U.S. cases have been identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Monkeypox is rarely fatal, and the CDC is not reporting any deaths in the U.S. as a result of the current outbreak. As of Wednesday, the organization is aware of 15 monkeypox deaths worldwide this year.
Earlier this week, Texas health officials announced that a person who had been diagnosed with monkeypox had died. The patient was severely immunocompromised, and no cause of death has yet been released.
A U.S. public health emergency was declared Aug. 4, a move that could facilitate access to emergency funds, allow the Biden administration to collect more data about cases and vaccinations, accelerate vaccine distribution and make it easier for doctors to prescribe treatment. The state’s fully-Democratic Congressional delegation has urged Republican Gov. Charlie Baker to make a similar move in Massachusetts.
The DPH is giving out the vaccine at clinics, initially limited to Boston and Provincetown due to limited supply. The program has since expanded to include clinics in Cambridge, Framingham, Lawrence, New Bedford, Randolph, Somerville, Springfield and Worcester. Eligibility limits on who can get them remain in effect.
As of Thursday, Massachusetts had administered 18,085 doses of the vaccine, the DPH said.
School considerations
With cases increasing, some infectious disease experts saying we should keep an eye on college campuses when students go back to school.
“All students should be prepared to change their behavior, erring on the side of caution, if monkeypox spreads to campuses,” said Dr. Rachel Cox, an expert in epidemiology and infectious diseases at MGH Institute of Health Professions.
Cox explained that due to the nature of college life, students should keep the risk of monkeypox in mind.
“I think it’s definitely possible for college campuses to be the next hot spot,” said Cox. “It’s obviously an area where there’s a lot of close contact, living in dorms, and there also tends to be a lot more sexual activity and experimentation.”
She expects the numbers to grow more in the weeks and months ahead, and she says college campuses need to be prepared.
“I think they should be on high alert for this upcoming storm, possibly,” said Cox. “They should be prepared for a plan in place for distribution of vaccines, testing and treatment if need be.”
NBC10 reached out to Northeastern, Boston University, Boston College, Harvard and Tufts to find out what plans they have for the new school year.
Only Tufts has responded so far and said it had not yet issued guidance to the school community.
We already have vaccines and treatments approved for monkeypox
What is monkeypox?
Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958, when outbreaks occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research — resulting in its name.
The first case in a human was reported in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which still has the majority of infections. Other African countries where it has been found: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone.
Human symptoms of monkeypox are similar to but milder than the symptoms of smallpox, the CDC says. It presents itself as a flu-like illness accompanied by lymph-node swelling and rash on the face and body.
Monkeypox starts off with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion. Monkeypox also causes lymph nodes to swell, something that smallpox does not. The…
Read More: 37 New Cases Confirmed – NBC Boston