Monkeypox

Apollonia Middleton, Reporter

As COVID-19 seemingly is disappearing from view, another epidemic has emerged. Though this epidemic is much more new and less publicized, monkeypox has spread across the world in a matter of a few short months. 

What is monkeypox? Monkeypox is a skin disease transmitted through contact to other people’s skin, shared surfaces like sheets, infected pets etc. According to kidshealth.org, monkeypox is categorized as a disease that is made up of the following symptoms: “fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash.” This disease causes a rash on the face that initially fills with pus. These flat spots fill with fluid and this is often the first indicator that you have contracted this illness. As they heal, they crust and fall off. Also, according to the CDC, there are 18,101 cases in the U.S. alone.

This disease is no easy feat to handle and take care of so we do need to follow precautions and take care of ourselves in order to prevent the spread. Though this usually affects rodents and other, non-human primates, it is becoming more and more common in humans, and it has begun to enter the U.S.   Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment demonstrates that in May of 2022 there were only 2 cases, which became 6 in June, 66 in July, and 130 in AUgust. This demonstrates the exponential growth of this disease in our state.Though COVID-19 has seemed to be less prevalent, it is crucial that we continue to have good hygiene and make sure we are able to stay clean and healthy to prevent contracting and dispersing monkeypox.