Monkeypox health threat has investigators eyeing Tennessee

WMC-TV, Memphis ^ | June 11, 2003 | Anna Marie Hartman

[LurkedLongEnough]

It's a new health threat that is setting off a major alarm. Dozens of cases of Monkeypox have been reported in three midwestern states. Health officials are investigating a suspected case of the virus in an eleven-year-old in New Jersey. Health investigators have also had their eye on Tennessee. As environments change and world travel and trade increase, germs once confined to animals often spread to human populations. The U-S cases of Monkeypox started when an infected rat passed on the disease to prairie dogs at an exotic pet store in Chicago. ...snip...

The original source of the U-S invasion is from creatures called Gambian giant rats imported from Africa as pets. The rats apparently infected prairie dogs sold at a Chicago based pet distributor. According to a Tennessee epidemiologist, two of that distributor's animals were traced to Tennessee. When state officials investigated they found both owners and their animals were healthy.

Memphis veterinarian Dr. Ralph Pope says prairie dogs are not that popular a pet in his practice, but he does see 2 or 3 a month. "In this particular situation evidently there is some concern here that there may be some people affected." Health officials worry that people with infected animals will let them loose, allowing them to infect common mice and rats which would spread the virus into the U-S environment. Dr. Stephen Ostroff, CDC said, "We don't know how likely that it to occur it certainly a concern and its one that we have to be cognizant of."

Scientists say anytime a new virus is introduced into an ecosystem, it must be addressed as a public health threat. People don't have to be bitten to contract Monkeypox, it seems to spread through the air. And there is no specific treatment. Studies show the virus can kill one in 10 people infected. So far no one infected in the U-S has died.

[backhoe]

-Strange new disease outbreaks--

[FairOpinion]

"People don't have to be bitten to contract Monkeypox, it seems to spread through the air. "

They are finally admitting it!


http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-monkeypox-cdc,0,4118585.story?coll=ny-health-headlines

How do people get monkeypox?

Monkeypox can spread to humans from an infected animal through an animal bite or direct contact with the animal's lesions or body fluids. The disease also can be spread from person to person, although it is much less infectious than smallpox. In human transmission, the virus is thought to be transmitted by respiratory droplets during direct and prolonged face-to-face contact. In addition, it is possible monkeypox can be spread by direct contact with body fluids of an infected person or with virus-contaminated objects, such as bedding or clothing.

[aristeides]

And I understand that, if monkeypox is caught in the respiratory fashion, it is much more dangerous. Fortunately, respiratory spread does not seem to be all that common.

[FairOpinion]

Actually it's worse:

How do people get monkeypox?

Monkeypox can spread to humans from an infected animal through an animal bite or direct contact with the animal's lesions or body fluids. The disease also can be spread from person to person, although it is much less infectious than smallpox. In human transmission, the virus is thought to be transmitted by respiratory droplets during direct and prolonged face-to-face contact. In addition, it is possible monkeypox can be spread by direct contact with body fluids of an infected person or with virus-contaminated objects, such as bedding or clothing.

http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-monkeypox-cdc,0,4118585.story?coll=ny-health-headlines/

[vetvetdoug]

Dr. (Ralph) Pope must have a better publicist than I do. He always gets the soundbites in the news. I will make sure I refer prarie dogs, hedgehogs, and venomous snakes to him from now on. This is the price Ralph pays for being in the news.

[FairOpinion]

Oops. I posted the sae info twice, I thought it was another thread.

Note that apparently the monkeypox virus acn spread not just via droplets, but also via inanimate objects, such as bedding or blankets, or...

[LurkedLongEnough]

I thought I was obsessing.

One bookmark to strange new diseases does it all. You are a true professional. Thank you. (I think. Wait a minute here...maybe I shouldn't read all that stuff...)

[backhoe]

...maybe I shouldn't read all that stuff...

You are probably right... like medical students being notorious for developing "symptoms" of all the exotic diseases they learn about, too much information can strain your brain...

I appreciate your kind words, however.

[joonbug]

From Tennessee.....hmmmm...perhaps Al Gore discovered it.
He can name it "Gore-pox" which is another name for the affliction we all would have if the Tennessee electorate voted for their home boy the last election.

[FairOpinion]

Monkeypox cases in 15 states
6/11/2003 6:45 PM
By: Capital News 9 web staff

The U.S. monkeypox outbreak has now reached a total of 15 states.

An agriculture department warning said prairie dogs infected with monkeypox from Illinois might have been sold to numerous buyers.

The agency gave updated information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Monkeypox is similar to smallpox. Health officials confirm five human cases, four in Wisconsin and one in Illinois. There are no reported deaths.

http://www.capitalnews9.com/content/headlines/?ArID=29258&SecID=33/

[Coleus]

`

[deJaz]

Could it be possible that whoever shipped these pets to the States put this infected rat intentionally to send a message.Something just isn't right.West Nile,Sars now monkey Pox.Just a thought.

[dc-zoo]

It just doesn't add up for me either. Just too much of a coincidence for this stuff to hit right after the war in iraq.

[jacquej]

I have the same thoughts this morning, but figured that it was just that I hadn't gotten my TF hat on yet.

If it is a new strategy , the terrorists are pretty clever.

[aristeides]

They think it was a Gambian rat. 90% of the population of Gambia is Moslem.

[dc-zoo]

Could be the rats themselves are islamic terrorists. Sort of like mini suicide/homicide bombers. Nanotech in action.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Or maybe... instead of the 72 virgins stuff, homocide bombers re-incarnate as diseased rats.

The CDC has said in their embargo order that the virus has been found in "at least six different species of potentially infected rodents have been implicated in the current outbreak mpx virus in humans." Let's hope that species such as squirrels, field mice, guinea pigs, etc. don't get & spread this illness.

Also, the CDC web site shows that mpx was found in pigs in the Congo during the 1996-1997 outbreak there.

[dc-zoo]

Yes it does appear that monkeypox can infect a wide range of animals. Much more so than sars or west nile. What if it can spread to our domestic pets?