Atlanta-based infectious disease expert explains monkeypox outbreak

June 8th, 2022

This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right, obtained from a sample of human skin associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. A leading doctor who chairs a World Health Organization expert group described the unprecedented outbreak of the rare disease monkeypox in developed countries as "a random event" that might be explained by risky sexual behavior at two recent mass events in Europe. (Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner/CDC via AP, File)

Health officials have confirmed the first case of monkeypox in the state of Georgia.

This all comes as the global cases surpass 1,000 across 36 countries and as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised its monkeypox alert to a Level 2, asking people to “practice enhanced precautions.”

On a recent edition of “Closer Look,” Dr.Carlos del Rio, a distinguished professor of medicine, epidemiology and global health and the executive associate dean of Emory University School of Medicine at Grady Health System, discusses the monkeypox outbreak, transmission, prevention.

During the conversation, Dr. del Rio talked about the importance of getting information about monkeypox to the public, identifying cases and isolating individuals who test positive to help eliminate the spread.

“One of the urgencies that we have right now is to have more testing available,” said del Rio. “We need to have more local testing in your clinic, in your laboratory, in the community, otherwise, we are creating roadblocks