b'Monkeypox InfectionTo Fear or Not to Fear?BY DR. THOMAS LEVY, M.D., J.D.A s of the writing of this article, multiplenewsreportshave recently addressed the occur-rence of monkeypox virus in-fections in humans. In the current setting of the entire Planet dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two and a half years, fear is readily stoked that another pandemic with a virus that comes from the same family of viruses as smallpox could be poised to inflict widespread suffering and death. This article will present the signifi-cant scientific data and literature surround-ing monkeypox infection in humans, which clearly demonstrate that the monkeypox virus presents NO threat of a pandemic or even a large epidemic.Monkeypox CharacteristicsAlthough many have never heard of it until recently, monkeypox infection is not the result of the emergence of a new virus. Rather, it was first identified in captive cy-nomolgus monkeys in Denmark in 1958. 1Thefirstdocumentedhumaninfectionto severely depleted vitamin and mineralvery limited outbreaks, never as an epidemic was reported in 1970 in a 9-month-old instores in those living in such remote areas ofor a pandemic. Such an outbreak is a clus-the Congo. After clinically recovering fromAfrica literally sets the stage for contractingter of cases in a given area from a pathogen the infection and its associated rash overany infectious disease. Quickly contractingwith a limited contagion risk. An epidemic/a month-long period, this baby then con- measles upon the resolution of the monkey- pandemic requires a pathogen that is very tracted the measles and died six days later. 2 pox virus is the logical result of such an ad- easily spread. This is not the case with the While not found exclusively in remote pop- vanced depletion of nutrients in the body.monkeypox virus. The United States has ulations in Central and West Africa, limitedThe typical mild to moderate clinical pre- already had an outbreak of monkeypox in-monkeypox outbreaks appear to have oc- sentation of the measles can easily evolvefection in 2003, involving 47 human cases curred most commonly in such areas of theinto a fatal infection when a chronic state ofsuspected to be secondary to the importation World where advanced malnutrition cannutrient depletion is still further depletedof infected wild rodents from Ghana. No sec-potentially make some otherwise benignby a month-long bout with the monkeypoxondary larger outbreak or epidemic resulted, infections life-threatening. 3This initial casevirus and the accompanying medical-drughowever. Furthermore, no human-to-human also serves to highlight the fact that under- intervention to resolve it. transmission was documented. 4Typically, lying chronic malnutrition with moderateMonkeypox cases have only occurred aswhile human-to-human transmission is cer-H ealtHF reedomN ews /s priNg2022 25'