Posted on Jul 12, 2022
The monkeypox outbreak was avoidable and warning signs were ignored, expert says
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https://www.npr.org/2022/07/12/ [login to see] /monkeypox-outbreak-testing-vaccine-cases
Monkeypox has been a developing problem for decades and the current global outbreak was avoidable, but the looming threat was largely ignored, according to a leading expert on the virus.
Dr. Anne Rimoin is a UCLA epidemiology professor and has spent the last two decades in the Democratic Republic of Congo working on monkeypox.
She said it was only when the virus spread beyond rural Africa that it sparked a global response.
"This virus has been spreading in marginalized and vulnerable populations [in Africa] for decades, and we've done nothing about it," Rimoin said. "We have known that monkeypox is a potential problem for decades."
There are now confirmed cases in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and South America. The Centers for Disease Control says there are more than 750 monkeypox cases in the U.S. — across almost every state — but Rimoin said this was certainly an undercount because there was not enough testing available.
Monkeypox has been a developing problem for decades and the current global outbreak was avoidable, but the looming threat was largely ignored, according to a leading expert on the virus.
Dr. Anne Rimoin is a UCLA epidemiology professor and has spent the last two decades in the Democratic Republic of Congo working on monkeypox.
She said it was only when the virus spread beyond rural Africa that it sparked a global response.
"This virus has been spreading in marginalized and vulnerable populations [in Africa] for decades, and we've done nothing about it," Rimoin said. "We have known that monkeypox is a potential problem for decades."
There are now confirmed cases in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and South America. The Centers for Disease Control says there are more than 750 monkeypox cases in the U.S. — across almost every state — but Rimoin said this was certainly an undercount because there was not enough testing available.
The monkeypox outbreak was avoidable and warning signs were ignored, expert says
Posted from npr.orgPosted in these groups: 
Medical
Health
University of California – Los Angeles
AfricaCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Medical Health University of California – Los Angeles AfricaCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Posted 2 y ago
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Seems all the diseases are in line and waiting for chow( us). I wonder if they're going to gang up and soon we'll have trifectas.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel thanks for the information. Hopefully the powers that be will take notice.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
...""If we do want to get in front of emerging infectious diseases, we are going to have to prioritize dealing with emerging global disease threats at the site where they are spreading early on," Rimoin said. "We are totally interconnected by trade and travel, population growth, population movement, and we cannot make the mistake again of thinking that an infection that's happening somewhere in a remote area of the world isn't going to affect us right at home."
"We will continue to be chasing behind them, and always be paying the price for not doing what's needed ahead of time."
For now, Rimoin said it was a matter of trying to contain a virus that was already spreading.
"It's much easier to stay out of trouble than it is to get out of trouble," she said.
"The good news is we have vaccines, we have therapeutics, we know a fair amount about this virus. The bad news is now we have to get the logistics together to be able to confront it head on."...
...""If we do want to get in front of emerging infectious diseases, we are going to have to prioritize dealing with emerging global disease threats at the site where they are spreading early on," Rimoin said. "We are totally interconnected by trade and travel, population growth, population movement, and we cannot make the mistake again of thinking that an infection that's happening somewhere in a remote area of the world isn't going to affect us right at home."
"We will continue to be chasing behind them, and always be paying the price for not doing what's needed ahead of time."
For now, Rimoin said it was a matter of trying to contain a virus that was already spreading.
"It's much easier to stay out of trouble than it is to get out of trouble," she said.
"The good news is we have vaccines, we have therapeutics, we know a fair amount about this virus. The bad news is now we have to get the logistics together to be able to confront it head on."...
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