Monkeypox

[rubytue]

Just what we need. www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/05/18/927043767/rare-monkeypox-outbreak-in-u-k-and-europe-what-is-it-and-should-we-worry

doesn’t usually transmit well person to person. Outbreaks usually burn themselves out. Smallpox vaccine is effective, but the US stopped it in 1972. Which I think is just short of a lot of us late Gen-Xers here. Yay? Hopefully nothing comes of this, but… seems like such recent history. 

[formerlyak]

The local news just said there is now a case in the US.
The man caught it while traveling.

[underwaterrhymes]

I’m super pissed a lot of media outlets are pushing the gay / bisexual men narrative. Not only is it incredibly irresponsible, but also overtly harmful and reminiscent of the early days of HIV/AIDS.

[devonpow]

I was on a girls weekend last week and it included a friend whose very gloom and doom about end of world scenarios. She was telling us all about how we no longer have smallpox vaccine stores, only people aged 50+ in the US had the vaccine, and some story about how Putin has all this small pox in a lab (note! I have no idea how conspiracy theory putin’s access to germ warfare is lol) and kept saying “everyone is worried about him using a nuclear weapon, I’m worried he uses small pox”.

So now I have a new reason to not sleep at night

[rubytue]

May 19, 2022 8:42:41 GMT -5 devonpow said:

I was on a girls weekend last week and it included a friend whose very gloom and doom about end of world scenarios. She was telling us all about how we no longer have smallpox vaccine stores, only people aged 50+ in the US had the vaccine, and some story about how Putin has all this small pox in a lab (note! I have no idea how conspiracy theory putin’s access to germ warfare is lol) and kept saying “everyone is worried about him using a nuclear weapon, I’m worried he uses small pox”.

So now I have a new reason to not sleep at night

I hate to admit it, but I am that friend. I try to keep in inside, but occasionally I let it out amount friends. Mostly, mine are about the downfall of the US, but smallpox hadn’t entered my thinking… yet. 

[msmerymac]

May 19, 2022 8:42:41 GMT -5 devonpow said:

I was on a girls weekend last week and it included a friend whose very gloom and doom about end of world scenarios. She was telling us all about how we no longer have smallpox vaccine stores, only people aged 50+ in the US had the vaccine, and some story about how Putin has all this small pox in a lab (note! I have no idea how conspiracy theory putin’s access to germ warfare is lol) and kept saying “everyone is worried about him using a nuclear weapon, I’m worried he uses small pox”.

So now I have a new reason to not sleep at night

Russia does, indeed, have lab-stored smallpox. 

[sonrisa]

$10 says Tucker Carlson or some other nitwit uses this to kick off homophobia hysteria just in time for pride month.

[Michelle]

May 19, 2022 10:06:07 GMT -5 rubytue said:

May 19, 2022 8:42:41 GMT -5 devonpow said:

I was on a girls weekend last week and it included a friend whose very gloom and doom about end of world scenarios. She was telling us all about how we no longer have smallpox vaccine stores, only people aged 50+ in the US had the vaccine, and some story about how Putin has all this small pox in a lab (note! I have no idea how conspiracy theory putin’s access to germ warfare is lol) and kept saying “everyone is worried about him using a nuclear weapon, I’m worried he uses small pox”.

So now I have a new reason to not sleep at night

I hate to admit it, but I am that friend. I try to keep in inside, but occasionally I let it out amount friends. Mostly, mine are about the downfall of the US, but smallpox hadn’t entered my thinking… yet. 

I am that friend too. Based on FBI reports to academic research institute leadership in our area, it's not actually that far-fetched of a concern. 

[rubytue]

Apparently, I’m under a rock. I don’t think I’ve seen anything about gay/bisexual men. Or else I glosses over that in article. *sigh*

Edit - well, the post talks about it 🤬 www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/05/18/monkeypox-faq/

[cattledogkisses]

May 19, 2022 8:42:41 GMT -5 devonpow said:

I was on a girls weekend last week and it included a friend whose very gloom and doom about end of world scenarios. She was telling us all about how we no longer have smallpox vaccine stores, only people aged 50+ in the US had the vaccine, and some story about how Putin has all this small pox in a lab (note! I have no idea how conspiracy theory putin’s access to germ warfare is lol) and kept saying “everyone is worried about him using a nuclear weapon, I’m worried he uses small pox”.

So now I have a new reason to not sleep at night

I would think we have to have some smallpox vaccine stores, because it's still routinely given to the military.  H has had the smallpox vax. 

[sonrisa]

May 19, 2022 11:26:03 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Apparently, I’m under a rock. I don’t think I’ve seen anything about gay/bisexual men. Or else I glosses over that in article. *sigh*

Edit - well, the post talks about it 🤬 www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/05/18/monkeypox-faq/

Its in the NPR link in the portion about how this outbreak is showing a new pattern of transmission as an STI.

[rubytue]

Oh look, we ordered some vaccine, for 2023 and 2024 delivery. www.precisionvaccinations.com/2022/05/18/13-million-freeze-dried-monkeypox-smallpox-vaccines-ordered

[icedcoffee]

WHAT. THE. FUCK.

[basilosaurus]

May 19, 2022 11:26:42 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

May 19, 2022 8:42:41 GMT -5 devonpow said:

I was on a girls weekend last week and it included a friend whose very gloom and doom about end of world scenarios. She was telling us all about how we no longer have smallpox vaccine stores, only people aged 50+ in the US had the vaccine, and some story about how Putin has all this small pox in a lab (note! I have no idea how conspiracy theory putin’s access to germ warfare is lol) and kept saying “everyone is worried about him using a nuclear weapon, I’m worried he uses small pox”.

So now I have a new reason to not sleep at night

I would think we have to have some smallpox vaccine stores, because it's still routinely given to the military.  H has had the smallpox vax. 

Spouse would have gotten it, but due to eczema he was exempt.

Where I live infants were still being regularly vaccinated into the 90s. I see the scars everywhere. I'm guessing that because they know the formulation for vaccine plus possible stockpiles, it can ramp up pretty quickly. They're not reinventing the wheel here.

[NewOrleans]

yasssss another extinction event

[aliciabella]

May 19, 2022 8:42:41 GMT -5 devonpow said:

I was on a girls weekend last week and it included a friend whose very gloom and doom about end of world scenarios. She was telling us all about how we no longer have smallpox vaccine stores, only people aged 50+ in the US had the vaccine, and some story about how Putin has all this small pox in a lab (note! I have no idea how conspiracy theory putin’s access to germ warfare is lol) and kept saying “everyone is worried about him using a nuclear weapon, I’m worried he uses small pox”.

So now I have a new reason to not sleep at night

All of my children have received the smallpox vaccination. We all do in the US. I don't understand what you are talking about.

[Velar Fricative]

May 19, 2022 12:44:35 GMT -5 aliciabella said:

May 19, 2022 8:42:41 GMT -5 devonpow said:

I was on a girls weekend last week and it included a friend whose very gloom and doom about end of world scenarios. She was telling us all about how we no longer have smallpox vaccine stores, only people aged 50+ in the US had the vaccine, and some story about how Putin has all this small pox in a lab (note! I have no idea how conspiracy theory putin’s access to germ warfare is lol) and kept saying “everyone is worried about him using a nuclear weapon, I’m worried he uses small pox”.

So now I have a new reason to not sleep at night

All of my children have received the smallpox vaccination. We all do in the US. I don't understand what you are talking about.

Soooooo I thought my kids did too but nope. It's not part of the CDC's immunization schedule and stopped being routinely given in the 70s in the US when smallpox was eradicated. I mean, maybe your kids were, but it doesn't appear that mine have been. The smallpox vaccine yields a telltale scar that my mom has on her arm, but I don't. So I'm assuming I never got it either. 

[Bad Dingo]

May 19, 2022 12:44:35 GMT -5 aliciabella said:

May 19, 2022 8:42:41 GMT -5 devonpow said:

I was on a girls weekend last week and it included a friend whose very gloom and doom about end of world scenarios. She was telling us all about how we no longer have smallpox vaccine stores, only people aged 50+ in the US had the vaccine, and some story about how Putin has all this small pox in a lab (note! I have no idea how conspiracy theory putin’s access to germ warfare is lol) and kept saying “everyone is worried about him using a nuclear weapon, I’m worried he uses small pox”.

So now I have a new reason to not sleep at night

All of my children have received the smallpox vaccination. We all do in the US. I don't understand what you are talking about.

I think you might be thinking of another vax?  Unrelated, I hope you are doing well and treatment is going ok!

[noodleoo]

May 19, 2022 12:44:35 GMT -5 aliciabella said:

May 19, 2022 8:42:41 GMT -5 devonpow said:

I was on a girls weekend last week and it included a friend whose very gloom and doom about end of world scenarios. She was telling us all about how we no longer have smallpox vaccine stores, only people aged 50+ in the US had the vaccine, and some story about how Putin has all this small pox in a lab (note! I have no idea how conspiracy theory putin’s access to germ warfare is lol) and kept saying “everyone is worried about him using a nuclear weapon, I’m worried he uses small pox”.

So now I have a new reason to not sleep at night

All of my children have received the smallpox vaccination. We all do in the US. I don't understand what you are talking about.

Are you thinking about chickenpox?  Small pox is not given anymore.  I never go it and my H only got it because he traveled to Korea as a child.  

[underwaterrhymes]

May 19, 2022 12:44:35 GMT -5 aliciabella said:

May 19, 2022 8:42:41 GMT -5 devonpow said:

I was on a girls weekend last week and it included a friend whose very gloom and doom about end of world scenarios. She was telling us all about how we no longer have smallpox vaccine stores, only people aged 50+ in the US had the vaccine, and some story about how Putin has all this small pox in a lab (note! I have no idea how conspiracy theory putin’s access to germ warfare is lol) and kept saying “everyone is worried about him using a nuclear weapon, I’m worried he uses small pox”.

So now I have a new reason to not sleep at night

All of my children have received the smallpox vaccination. We all do in the US. I don't understand what you are talking about.

Are you maybe thinking of polio? They stopped giving smallpox in 1972.

[aliciabella]

May 19, 2022 13:03:55 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

May 19, 2022 12:44:35 GMT -5 aliciabella said:

All of my children have received the smallpox vaccination. We all do in the US. I don't understand what you are talking about.

Are you maybe thinking of polio? They stopped giving smallpox in 1972.

Then I apologize and am fucking stupid, lol. I honest to God assumed the vaccinations we received included smallpox.Goes to show that I know shit!

[underwaterrhymes]

May 19, 2022 13:27:04 GMT -5 aliciabella said:

May 19, 2022 13:03:55 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Are you maybe thinking of polio? They stopped giving smallpox in 1972.

Then I apologize and am fucking stupid, lol. I honest to God assumed the vaccinations we received included smallpox.Goes to show that I know shit!

Honestly, I get confused too. I regularly have to remind myself that smallpox isn’t one of the ones we get anymore.

[Velar Fricative]

May 19, 2022 13:27:04 GMT -5 aliciabella said:

May 19, 2022 13:03:55 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Are you maybe thinking of polio? They stopped giving smallpox in 1972.

Then I apologize and am fucking stupid, lol. I honest to God assumed the vaccinations we received included smallpox.Goes to show that I know shit!

I seriously thought we got them too until I checked yesterday to confirm lol. 

[abs]

May 19, 2022 13:27:04 GMT -5 aliciabella said:

May 19, 2022 13:03:55 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Are you maybe thinking of polio? They stopped giving smallpox in 1972.

Then I apologize and am fucking stupid, lol. I honest to God assumed the vaccinations we received included smallpox.Goes to show that I know shit!

You aren't alone.  I truly thought this was something we still vaccinate for but apparently not!  

Something else to worry about.  YAY.

[dontlook]

I saw this yesterday and my first thoughts was “add it to the fucking list”. I’ve definitely become a doom and gloom person. Everything you read is more bad news. It’s exhausting.

[meanie]

Lurker but I have a small anecdote! Last summer there was a person who came in to the Atlanta airport with monkeypox the day before we landed there. We were visiting friends, one of them is a nurse. She is not super alarmist but I could tell she was...concerned.

We basically ran through the airport (not a small airport either!) holding our breath, yelling at our kids not to touch anything, and dousing ourselves in hand sanitizer. After being cooped up avoiding covid for a year and a half at that point I figured it was just our luck that the first time we traveled, there would be a super rare disease exposure where we were going.

Obviously it all worked out fine, I don't even think the original person spread it to anyone. My husband 100% thought the world was about to end.

[Deleted]

May 19, 2022 11:26:42 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

May 19, 2022 8:42:41 GMT -5 devonpow said:

I was on a girls weekend last week and it included a friend whose very gloom and doom about end of world scenarios. She was telling us all about how we no longer have smallpox vaccine stores, only people aged 50+ in the US had the vaccine, and some story about how Putin has all this small pox in a lab (note! I have no idea how conspiracy theory putin’s access to germ warfare is lol) and kept saying “everyone is worried about him using a nuclear weapon, I’m worried he uses small pox”.

So now I have a new reason to not sleep at night

I would think we have to have some smallpox vaccine stores, because it's still routinely given to the military.  H has had the smallpox vax. 

I’ve also had the smallpox vaccine. Pretty sure my husband has too (he used to work for a cruise line and needed lots of vaccines for travel). And my sister has it since she’s a healthcare worker.

[timorousbeastie]

May 19, 2022 15:40:52 GMT -5 @villainv said:

May 19, 2022 11:26:42 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

I would think we have to have some smallpox vaccine stores, because it's still routinely given to the military.  H has had the smallpox vax. 

I’ve also had the smallpox vaccine. Pretty sure my husband has too (he used to work for a cruise line and needed lots of vaccines for travel). And my sister has it since she’s a healthcare worker.

Many scientists are vaccinated as well. Most of my department in grad school was vaccinated due to work they did with a related virus. Unfortunately, my boss wouldn’t even let me go in the room the work was done in, since I was fresh off of chemo at the time, so I wasn’t granted approval for the vaccine. Yet another way cancer screwed me over - I could be protected against both monkey pox and small pox threats if it wasn’t for that.

[rubytue]

Add me to the group who assumed they were vaccinated from small pox. I remember asking my mom about her small pox vaccine scare, and I could swear she told me I didn’t have it the same way. But, either I’m misremembering or she also didn’t know which ones I got.

[mrsukyankee]

As I was born during the time when it was routinely given, I'm going to assume that I got it.