We’re breaking down all you need to know about monkeypox after it was declared a public health emergency in the United States. WNBA star Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in Russian prison. And four Louisville police officers were arrested on federal charges over Breonna Taylor’s death.
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Monkeypox is now a public health emergency
The monkeypox outbreak in the United States is a public health emergency, the Biden administration declared Thursday, a move that could make it easier to tap funding and government resources to combat the once-rare disease. Read more.
Here’s what you should know:
- US has the biggest monkeypox outbreak: More than 6,600 Americans have been diagnosed since mid-May. The virus, a less-deadly cousin of smallpox, has now triggered a 26,000-person global emergency, reaching 83 countries. But the full extent of America’s outbreak is unknown.
- Monkeypox is transmitted person-to-person, usually through close contact with respiratory secretions, infected skin lesions or recently contaminated objects, according to the World Health Organization.
- Vaccines can be used to prevent monkeypox both before and after exposure, but there haven’t been enough available. As of July 22, the Biden administration had shipped out 300,000 doses of monkeypox vaccines across the country.
👉 As the outbreak grows, here’s a look at monkeypox cases in each state.
What everyone’s talking about
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Dealing with the spread
Monkeypox began to spread as the world was still dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Unlike COVID-19, it is not a new disease and it’s not as transmissible. But officials are running into some of the same issues they faced at the start of the pandemic. For example, testing for monkeypox was initially difficult in the U.S. as laboratories were not equipped for it. This week, President Joe Biden picked top officials at FEMA and the CDC to lead the administration’s strategy to combat the outbreak, including increasing the availability of tests, vaccinations and treatments. Read more.
Monkeypox myths and questions
No, you can’t catch monkeypox from monkeys. Yes, there is an effective vaccine. No, it’s not only for gay men. There are a lot of misconceptions and questions floating around. Here’s what you should know.
- No, it is not a sexually transmitted infection: Close or intimate contact can transmit monkeypox. While the outbreak has mainly affected men who have sex with men, the virus doesn’t care who is infected.
- No, you can’t catch monkeypox from a handshake or a toilet seat: Caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox, monkeypox is transmissible through person-to-person contact with rashes, scabs or bodily fluids, touching infected items like clothing, as well as contact with respiratory secretions.
- Who should get a vaccine? Men who have sex with men and others at high risk, including health care workers who treat patients with monkeypox and family members of those infected, should get vaccinated if possible, doctors say.
👉 Monkeypox is spreading through sex, but it’s not an STI. Why calling it one is a problem.
Real quick
Brittney Griner sentenced to 9 years in Russian prison
A Russian judge sentenced Brittney Griner to nine years in a penal colony after the WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist was found guilty of drug possession. Russian officials said she carried vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage; Griner said she accidentally packed them in haste. With the trial over, negotiations to free Griner are expected to continue between Washington and Moscow during a period of tension between the two countries. Read more about what’s next for Griner.
Feds charge 4 officers in Breonna Taylor shooting
Four Louisville police officers involved in the deadly raid at Breonna Taylor’s home were charged Thursday with civil-rights violations, the Justice Department announced, including a former detective who was fired for lying on the search warrant that led to her death. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced federal charges against former officers Joshua Jaynes, Brett Hankison, Kelly Goodlett and Sgt. Kyle Meany. Taylor, a 26-year-old Black medical worker, was shot to death when police knocked down her door while executing the search warrant. Read more about the charges here.
A break from the news
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Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Send her an email at laura@usatoday.com or follow along with her adventures – and misadventures – on Twitter. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.
