, Columnists
College Kids and Pet Owners Should Beware Monkeypox Too
The outbreak has proved more persistent than many thought, and governments have been slow to roll out vaccines. We can’t lose vigilance in the back-to-school rush.
Time to vaccinate.
Photographer: Joe Raedle/Getty Images North AmericaThis article is for subscribers only.
No sweat, we’ve got this. That’s what we thought when the monkeypox outbreak emerged in May. After all, as an orthopoxvirus, it’s similar to smallpox and so we already have a vaccine — two, in fact. There is also a treatment, it’s generally not deadly, and, as a DNA virus (as opposed to an RNA one like SARS-CoV-2), it’s unlikely to mutate much.
But monkeypox has proved more stubborn than many thought, and governments have been slow to roll out vaccines. We spoke about the reasons why we must stay vigilant.