Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/GrJf8ShaRRc   Monkeypox, the orthodox virus that is a cousin of smallpox, is rapidly spreading around the world and…. within the US.  The CDC has confirmed over 300 cases in at least 28 states with the population-dense states of California, New York, Florida, and Illinois heading the pack.  So far, most of the US cases have involved sexual transmission, but, as the amount of monkeypox virus circulating rises, the virus could spread by more casual contact or through the air on respiratory droplets.   The CDC and the Biden administration are ramping up supplies of the preferred vaccine against monkeypox, Jynneos, but the demand far outpaces the available suppl.  That being the case, your best bet is avoiding a monkeypox infection.   If you received a smallpox vaccination years ago, you may have some residual protection.  Don’t count on it though.  Monkeypox is spread by contact with the characteristic skin lesions, by bodily secretions from an infected person, and by aerosol droplet