NEW YORK (AP) – Recent genetic analysis of monkey cases suggests there are two different strains in the United States, health officials said Friday, raising the likelihood that the virus is circulating undetected within some time.
Many cases in the United States are caused by the same strain. Recent cases in Europe, but few specimens show a different strain, federal health officials said. Each strain was registered in the United States last year, before the latest international outbreak was detected.
More patient tests will be needed to determine how long the monkey flower has spread in the United States and elsewhere, said Jennifer McQuiston of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“I think, of course, there are cases of chickenpox in the United States that used to be on the radar, but not to a large extent,” he told reporters on Friday. He added that “there may be an ongoing public outcry” in parts of the United States where the virus has not yet been identified.
The CDC said it is trying to intensify work to find infections and more cases are likely to be reported.
The findings suggest it may be difficult to hide the outbreak, said Dr Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Saskatchewan University.
It is not clear how long the infections last and where. Some infections can be misdiagnosed just like others.
“We don’t have a good idea how many cases there are,” Rasmussen said.
The monkey flower is native to Part of Africa, where people are infected with the bites of rats or small animals. Often, it does not spread easily to people.
But cases began in Europe and the United States last month. Many, but not all, those infected with the virus have traveled abroad and are being investigated by health officials in growing countries.
On Friday, the United States identified at least 20 cases in 11 states. Hundreds of other cases have been found in other countries, many of which seem to be related to sexual activity. The last two raves in Europe.
So far, there have been many reported cases outside of Africa of men having sex with men, but health officials have pointed out that the monkey flower can infect anyone. Officials said a heterosexual woman is under investigation in the United States.
The disease usually begins with flu -like symptoms and swollen lymph nodes, followed by a rash on the face and body.
Deaths from monkeypox have not been reported in the United States and Europe. But that could change if the infections started in weaker people, such as very young children or people with weak immune systems, Rasmussen said.
He raised another concern: Even if the spread to humans stopped, it is possible the virus would catch on the U.S. rodent population, both through pets and unwanted rats in homes.
“It’s not out of the question,” Rasmussen said.
Also on Friday, the CDC released an analysis of the top 17 reported cases in the United States. The median age was 40, and all but one were identified as having sex with men. According to the report, fourteen traveled abroad to 11 different countries.
The Associated Press Department of Health and Science receives support from the Science Education Department of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. AP is solely responsible for all content.
Source: Huffpost
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