Monkeypox cases in Maryland surpass 110, CDC data show
BALTIMORE – BALTIMORE (WJZ) – Baltimore City has 28 of the state's 111 confirmed cases of Monkeypox cases, according to City Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa.
The city administered all 60 Monkeypox vaccine doses at its clinic at Chase Brexton this week.
"I get there is significant demand. Until we have more supply—very similar to COVID—we also should be focused on prevention," Dzirasa said. "So, prevention, prevention, prevention, until we get to the point of having more vaccine."
The growing number of cases comes as health authorities take steps to combat the spread of monkeypox. San Francisco issued a state of emergency Thursday as the number of cases there approaches the 300-mark. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global emergency over the weekend.
But while steps are being taken to head off the threat, health officials are working to maximize a limited supply of the vaccine. The Maryland Department of Health has set aside 3,000 doses for local health departments and is holding onto another 363 doses to distribute as needed.
Baltimore City received 200 doses of the vaccine so far. Dzirasa expects more doses will soon arrive, but she does not have a timetable from the state.
"I certainly understand the public outcry," she said. "And, I want to say we're advocating at all levels—at the state level and the federal level for more allocation."
On Thursday, U.S. Health and Human Services officials announced 768,000 additional doses will be distributed to states soon.
"(The low vaccine supply) is frustrating for the community and it's certainly frustrating for us," Dr. Jason Farley from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing said Friday.
Farley says messaging around the disease and how its spread has raised stigmas.
Monkeypox has affected gay men at a higher rate than others, but anyone is susceptible to the disease, Farley said. It can be spread with non-sexual contact.
"It is not and will not stay within the LGBTQ community. There is no one who is immune to Monkeypox. Any of us are at risk," Farley said.
Farley drew parallels to the public health response at the start of the HIV crisis.
"It caused huge problems with people thinking it wasn't impacting their community and, as such, they ignored warning signs," Farley said.
The CDC reports 4,907 confirmed monkeypox/orthopoxvirus cases nationwide as of Friday afternoon.
For more information on the signs and symptoms of the disease, click here: https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.html.
