Monkeypox strikes Oregon with 93 cases

Posted August 11, 2022

By Mila Romero

Staff Reporter

The contagious Monkeypox disease continues its ongoing outbreak, leaving Oregon with 93 confirmed cases of the disease.

Skin to skin contact and shared clothing such as bedding, towels, and other materials used by those infected with Monkeypox are ways that the virus spreads. Monkeypox carries a visual component to its symptoms which includes rashes with bumps that are blister-like. Along with the rashes, Monkeypox has flu-like symptoms including fever, headaches, and swollen lymph nodes. The disease is rarely fatal, but people with weakened immune systems, children under 8 years of age, people with a history of eczema, and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding are more likely to get seriously ill or die from the disease.

“The likelihood of this becoming a true pandemic is remote or very low," Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine Peter Hotez stated.

So, the chances of the Monkeypox virus becoming as impactful as the COVID-19 are close to none.

Although Monkeypox cases remain at a manageable rate, Governor Kate Brown is urging Oregonians to take precautions and to avoid events that call for close contact among large groups of people. Ways to take precaution during the outbreak include handling clothes with gloves if they have been touched by someone with Monkeypox, washing hands frequently, and keeping a distance from large groups of people. States have not considered proceeding with mandatory quarantines due to the low numbers in cases.

“I feel desensitized to this because of Covid and that may be a reason as to why I am not scared,” stated DDHS senior Evellyn Lichnov. “But, I also feel like, because of Covid, I am more confident that we are able to confront something like this again, and frankly, I’m tired of feeling panicked.