First Known Case of New Mpox Strain in the United States Confirmed
California health officials confirmed the first known US case of a new mpox strain the US. The new strain, called clade 1b, is more contagious but may cause less severe illness than previous clade 1 strains. The patient was exposed to the virus while traveling in Central and Eastern Africa, regions which are experiencing outbreaks. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) accounts for the majority of infections in Africa. The DRC has reported 47,000 suspected clade 1 mpox infections and over 1,000 suspected fatalities. The virus has spilled over to nearby countries, including the Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Uganda and Rwanda.
A handful of mpox cases outside of the African continent have been confirmed in the United Kingdom, Germany, Kenya, Sweden, India and Thailand. While health officials are monitoring the spread of mpox, they also say that “there is no concern or evidence that [this form of] mpox clade I is currently spreading between individuals in California or the United States”.
Full Story: HealthDay
Climate Changed is Responsible for 1 in 5 Cases of Dengue Fever, Study Shows
According to a new study, climate change is responsible for 1 in 5 current cases of dengue fever. Warming temperatures allow mosquitos –which spread the disease– to thrive in regions that were once inhospitable to the insects. As a result, the number of dengue cases is expected to increase by 40-60% by 2050. Some areas of the world could see a 150-200 percent increase in cases by mid-century. The ideal temperature range for the virus to replicate in mosquitos is 68-82 degrees. As wider swaths of the United States shifts into this “sweet spot” for dengue fever, researchers expect the number of infections acquired within the country to increase.
Full Story: HealthDay
