Monkeypox cases decrease, but remain a public health emergency – Los Angeles Loyolan
The reception area of the Student Health Services office, located on the North Side of Burns Recreation Center, first floor.
Following the beginning of the recent monkeypox outbreak in May, over 24,000 cases of the viral disease have been confirmed in the United States. The CDC has reported a gradual decrease in cases within the last few weeks, but monkeypox continues to be a public health emergency critically impacting certain areas of the population.
Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958, and is part of the same family of viruses as smallpox. The disease’s moniker stems from its discovery in laboratory monkeys in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The first human case of monkeypox occurred in 1970, and transmission of the virus is commonly linked to the import of animals and international travel. Prior outbreaks have occurred in the U.S., with the most recent one taking place in 2003, when 47 cases were confirmed stemming from human contact with imported prairie dogs.
The 2022 outbreak of monkeypox was first reported in the United Kingdom on May 6, originating from a British resident who had traveled to Nigeria. In the U.S., the first case was confirmed shortly after on May 17 in Massachusetts.
The Student Health & Psychological offices located on the North Side of Burns Recreation Center.
Human transmission of monkeypox typically occurs from skin-to-skin contact, or through contaminated fabrics and surfaces. Individuals exposed to the virus begin developing symptoms within three weeks from point of contact, and can potentially spread the disease until symptoms completely clear within 2-4 weeks of the virus’ onset.
Monkeypox is characterized by a skin eruption that commonly appears on the face, hands, feet and genitalia of affected individuals. Initially appearing as flat, red spots, the rash will eventually form into painful fluid-filled lesions. The virus has been described as both a mentally and physically difficult disease by those who have experienced it during the recent outbreak.
Other symptoms of the virus include: fever, body aches, respiratory issues and swollen lymph nodes. Researchers are still investigating if the virus can be spread by asymptomatic individuals.
LA county has been continually updating the monkeypox case summary dashboard, at the time of publishing there are 2,158 confirmed cases of Monkeypox. The first known death from the virus in the U.S. occurred in Los Angeles on Sept. 12. In a statement from the Los Angeles Department of Public Health, the local resident was reported to be severely immunocompromised and was hospitalized at the time of death. The department stated no further information on the situation will be released in order to protect the patient’s confidentiality and privacy.
The recent outbreak was deemed a public health emergency by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Aug. 4, but experts have weighed in that the virus will not have a drastic impact on people’s daily lives to the same extent as COVID-19.
On Aug. 18, LMU put out an advisory regarding monkeypox stating that the University will continue to monitor the situation, but at the present time, the risk of the disease remains low.
The Dean of Students Terri Mangione’s office, located in the Malone Student Center.
The Loyolan reached out to the Student Health Services department, but did not receive a response in time for publication. Dean of Students Terri Mangione stated in an email reply that the information reported in the advisory remained accurate, and LMU will continue to monitor the situation as it develops.
Students around campus shared their thoughts on the recent outbreak of monkeypox, following the beginning of the first semester on campus where COVID-19 restrictions have been fully lifted.
“[My] initial thoughts were like ‘no way is this happening again,’” said Cooper Bittman, sophomore film, television and media studies major. “I think everyone is so used to COVID-19 over the past few years … I heard monkeypox, and I was like ‘I hope it doesn’t happen again,’ but if it does, at least we kind of all know the gist and how things are going to run.”
Despite the severity of monkeypox if contracted, most students reported that they were less concerned about the virus as compared to COVID-19.
“I’m not incredibly concerned. I mean, obviously there’s always a risk. With COVID-19, we thought, ‘hey, it’s not going to be that big of a deal,’ so there’s always a chance it becomes a bigger issue than what it looks like now. Right now, I’m not really worried about getting it though,” said Christopher Barrett, freshman film and television production major.
A masked student playing pool in the recreational area of Palm South.
Despite the relatively low risk of contracting monkeypox, the virus has impacted men who have sex with men (MSM) far more critically than other areas of the population. Media coverage and the government’s response to the virus have been criticized, and members of the LGBTQ+ community aim to avoid the same stigma experienced during the early years of the AIDS crisis.
In LA County, 98% of confirmed monkeypox cases are in males. Among confirmed cases where sexual orientation is known, 97% of cases occur among people who identify as gay or bisexual. The virus has impacted the LA LGBT Center’s sexual health clinic heavily, as the average wait time extended from 24 hours to five days.
“I’m not as concerned [as compared to COVID-19]. I know that it disproportionately affects people who are gay… and so I think that I’m more worried for my friends who are in those identities,” said Catherine Barrie, senior environmental studies major, on her thoughts and concerns regarding monkeypox compared to COVID-19.
Due to its similarity to smallpox, similar antiviral drugs can be used to effectively treat monkeypox. The JYNNEOS vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for individuals over the age of 18. A full list of public vaccination sites in LA County can be found here.
LMU instructs any student who has been exposed to monkeypox to isolate, monitor symptoms and to contact Student Health Services.