Advocates Warn US at Risk of Losing Control on Monkeypox

The Biden administration has responded to the Monkeypox epidemic too slowly, say infectious disease specialists and public health campaigners, and the United States is now at risk of losing control of the illness. According to them, the reaction to Monkeypox is eerily reminiscent of the worst aspects of the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, with highly constrained testing and a slow deployment of vaccinations resulting in a virus that is spreading unnoticed.

“Where we have fallen short is in expediting testing, making vaccinations available, and streamlining access to the greatest medicines,” said the researcher. We haven’t stopped this outbreak because all three of these areas have been bureaucratic and delayed, according to David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD).

Monkeypox is not a new virus, unlike COVID-19, and there are well-established methods to stop its transmission. Officials from the Biden administration stated that they are confident in their strategy. “The entire world has been aware of it for decades. We are aware of its proliferation. We have tests that can be used to determine who is affected. In a recent briefing, Ashish Jha, who oversees the White House’s coronavirus response, emphasised that we have vaccines that are quite powerful against it.

460 cases have been reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 30 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C., but experts warn the figure is almost probably an underestimate since so many individuals who may be sick lack access to mass testing. Although some claim the administration’s actions may be too late, it is stepping up its response by increasing testing capacity and extending access to immunizations.