Monkeypox, also known as Mpox, has been
circulating the internet, taking over social
media platforms from TikTok to Facebook,
filling people with fear and concern.
According to the World Health Organization
or WHO, monkeypox was first discovered
in South Africa in the 1970s and started
back up in June 2022, raising concern with a
new strand known as “clade two” commonly
passed from skin-to-skin contact. According
to the CDC, monkeypox is considered a
Zoonotic disease, meaning it can be spread
back and forth between both animals and
people.
“At this time, I would say there shouldn’t
be any concerns, there have been no cases
reported here in Missouri,” FHN school nurse
Heather Marren said. “It is a virus so it can
spread quickly, but as of right now I would
say FHN students are safe.”
According to both the CDC and WHO, the
people who are currently at risk are children
under the age of one, people with a very
weak immune system, people with a history
of eczema and people who are pregnant.
According to the Northeastern Global News,
around 20,000 cases have been reported
and around 975 deaths to date, two thirds of
which are children under the ages of five.
