I am writing in response to a recent article about the first confirmed case of monkeypox in Clark County. (“Clark County’s first monkeypox infection confirmed,” The Columbian, July 26.)
First I would like to commend the writer, Dylan Jefferies, for their clear and concise information regarding transmission of the disease. Many publications have been focusing on the fact monkeypox can be sexually transmitted and are implying it is only a threat to LGBTQ+ men. As stated in the article, anyone can contract monkeypox and do so in a variety of ways. We need more news outlets following this example.
Secondly, I would like to touch on the information regarding the confirmed case and the quote provided by Dr. Alan Melnick. He states that risk to the public remains very low, however hearing this instills in me a troubling sense of deja vu. In the very onset of the pandemic I recall being told not to worry and that COVID was much like the flu: unlikely to be an issue. While it is true monkeypox does not spread as easily as COVID-19, the fact remains: it still spreads. We know well the ramifications of underestimating a virus, and to do so again would be foolhardy.
