monkeypox

June 8, 2003 8:25 AM

"We have an outbreak" (James Hughes, director of the CDC). At least 19 people in three Midwestern states have contracted a disease related to smallpox marking the first outbreak of the life-threatening illness in the United States. The disease is known as monkeypox.
posted by stbalbach (15 comments total)

At least it's a better name than SARS.
posted by Space Coyote at 8:58 AM on June 8, 2003

Authorities estimate that monkeypox has a mortality rate of between 1 percent and 10 percent, compared with a mortality rate of about 30 percent for smallpox.

Cool your jets, chicken little. It's bad, but I don't think it's the end of the world. It's also worth including right up front that [o]fficials said there was no indication that bioterrorism was involved.

No reason to scare the crap out of people with the sensationalized FPP.
posted by tomharpel at 9:39 AM on June 8, 2003

stbalbach didn't indicate at all that there was "bioterrorism" involved. but thanks for clearing that up.
posted by dabitch at 9:46 AM on June 8, 2003

i didn't think the FPP was sensational at all. thought it was worded just fine. my only thought after reading the article was "oh, idiots have contracted a disease from a wild animal they thought they'd keep as a pet. surprise? nope. justice? yup." (yeah yeah, some non-wild-animal-keepers did and will get it from other people. but that's what you get for associating with wild-animal-keeping idiots.) lesson learned? don't fuck with mother nature.
posted by dobbs at 9:50 AM on June 8, 2003

Nothing about stbalbach's post made me think he was sensationalizing the story or trying to scare people.
posted by boredomjockey at 10:39 AM on June 8, 2003

I've never had chicken pox, but I think I'd be pleased (in the "every cloud has a very very tiny silver lining" way) to get monkeypox.

'Cause, dude, monkey.
posted by Katemonkey at 10:44 AM on June 8, 2003

Katemonkey I hope you learn that monkeys aren't all fun and games, poo flinging, howling primates but have a deadly side as well.
posted by euphorb at 11:01 AM on June 8, 2003

This is what happens when you elect a monkey president.
posted by nyxxxx at 11:10 AM on June 8, 2003

Katemonkey I hope you learn that monkeys aren't all fun and games, poo flinging, howling primates but have a deadly side as well.

Fuck that. Just because euphorb's innocence was stolen at the petting zoo doesn't mean you have no right to be happy.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 12:16 PM on June 8, 2003

Authorities estimate that monkeypox has a mortality rate of between 1 percent and 10 percent, compared with a mortality rate of about 30 percent for smallpox.

Not unlike SARS, which has quite a few people still concerned about its spread. Also like SARS, there's no effective treatment.
posted by briank at 12:47 PM on June 8, 2003

I'm not particularly reassured by the low mortality rate. The 1918 influenza pandemic that killed tens of millions of people is thought to have had a 2-3% mortality rate. Fortunately, it seems that monkeypox isn't anywhere near as contagious.
posted by electro at 2:30 PM on June 8, 2003

The monkeypox virus was spread by prairie dogs kept as pets. No monkeying around involved.
posted by konolia at 3:18 PM on June 8, 2003

I knew that (site that must not be mentioned) crowd were up to something!
posted by dg at 6:44 PM on June 8, 2003

Monkeypox. Wow.

Life imitates the 2002 finale of ER.
posted by Dreama at 3:07 AM on June 9, 2003

monkeys aren't all fun and games, poo flinging, howling primates but have a deadly side as well.

Damn right...
posted by monkey closet at 4:49 AM on June 9, 2003