SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – Monkeypox has been found in many African countries for decades, but health officials are concerned that it's spreading to more places where the disease is not endemic.
That includes here in San Francisco.
Monkeypox is usually found in animals, but climate and habitat changes might be causing it to circulate more – including to humans. According to UCSF Assistant Professor of Medicine Dr. Seth Blumberg, there could be an epidemiologic change as monkeypox has made its way into the big city.
The good news is that the telltale blisters and other symptoms make monkeypox relatively easy to identify so people can quarantine early.
"Those factors together should make it easier to ensure that monkeypox doesn't cause nearly as much trouble as a disease like COVID," he said.
The smallpox vaccine, which protects against monkeypox, is still stockpiled.
"What might happen is that we vaccinate a very targeted population such as contacts of people who had monkeypox," Blumberg added. Monkeypox is more commonly found in rodents, usually in Central and Western Africa.
Monkeypox is more commonly found in rodents, usually in Central and Western Africa.
Blumberg was a guest on KCBS Radio's "As Prescribed" on Thursday.
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