The StoryWell, there’s another global health emergency. Can humans catch a break, or…?No. On Saturday, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a public health emergency. In other words, without a coordinated international response, this could escalate into a pandemic. How did we get here?Monkeypox has been around since at least the ‘70s. But it has largely stayed confined to Central and West Africa. That all changed in the past two months, when cases started popping up around the world. There are now more than 16,000 recorded cases in over 70 countries — and almost 3,000 in the US alone. What do we know about the disease?It can cause a variety of symptoms, including fever and chills. Eventually, it can develop into a painful rash that can appear anywhere on the body — which is when the disease is believed to be most infectious. So far this year, there have been no recorded deaths in the US. How do we stay safe?By knowing how it spreads: largely through direct, skin-to-skin contact. It can also spread through respiratory droplets (think: face-to-face interaction). And possibly through bedding. In the current outbreak, the LGBTQ+ community has been disproportionately impacted. It’s brought up a lot of painful memories surrounding the HIV/AIDS epidemic, stigma, and when and how governments choose to acknowledge a health crisis and roll out treatment. Speaking of treatment…The US has access to two vaccines: one originally for smallpox and another that is newer, with fewer side effects. Both are in short supply. But the US could be ready to roll out hundreds of thousands more doses by the end of this month. Meanwhile, patients have reported struggles accessing treatment. theSkimm As much as no one wants to hear the word ‘outbreak’ anymore, here we are again. But experts say staying vigilant now can prevent the spread from getting bad to worse. | 