Demetre Daskalakis, M.D., M.P.H.
The variety of new monkeypox circumstances has declined since this summer time, however many questions stay about signs, transmission, vaccines, remedies and whether or not the virus that causes the illness can mutate.
For well being journalists overlaying the evolving monkeypox story, AHCJ’s webinar this Thursday, Sept. 22 at midday EST supplies an awesome alternative to get solutions to a few of your questions by asking White Home Nationwide Monkeypox Response Deputy Coordinator Demetre Daskalakis, M.D, M.P.H.
Dr. Daskalakis will speak concerning the newest understanding of the science round monkeypox and tackle the disproportionate affect the illness has had on Black and Hispanic folks. Go to this webpage for Zoom assembly particulars.
As of Sept. 20, there have been 24,203 confirmed monkeypox circumstances in the U.S. and 63,117 globally, in accordance with the CDC.
Case numbers have fallen nationally by about 50% since this summer time. The Biden administration attributes the decline to its efforts to coach well being techniques and the general public about monkeypox testing and signs and getting vaccines and coverings to these in danger.
Epidemiologists say the community of individuals at the moment most in danger for monkeypox are males who’ve intercourse with males, a bunch that features individuals who establish as homosexual, bisexual, transgender and nonbinary. Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply that different networks of individuals will not be impacted sooner or later.
Instances are nonetheless rising in lots of Black and Hispanic communities, and information are exhibiting vaccination charges in these communities are lagging amongst non-Hispanic whites.
“We’re seeing that monkeypox circumstances are concentrating in homosexual, bisexual, and different males who intercourse with males of coloration whereas most vaccines … have been administered to white males,” Daskalakis mentioned at a White Home briefing on Sept. 15.
In response, the CDC launched the Monkeypox Vaccine Equity Pilot Program to put aside 10,000 vials of monkeypox vaccine and assist state, native, metropolis, tribal and territorial public well being departments attain communities disproportionately impacted by monkeypox.
For extra background and consultants to contact about monkeypox, see this tip sheet on 3 ways for covering race and ethnic disparities, take a look at this site for the newest on educational analysis about monkeypox and this guide by the Affiliation of LGBTQ Journalists on easy methods to report on this subject with out perpetuating stigma.
Should you can’t be part of the webinar when it’s dwell, you possibly can nonetheless have your questions requested and answered. Please e-mail your inquiries to bara@healthjournalism.org.
