The Biden-Harris regime appears to be panicky as they make desperate attempts to monitor the escalating situations of the highly contagious mpox disease, previously recognized as monkeypox. Owing to the pandemic, fear is mounting about the swift international proliferation of the mpox disease outside its African stronghold. Reacting to the spiking incidents in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the U.S. government hastily launched an ‘incident response structure’ spanning multiple agencies supposed to serve as an early response strategy to ‘domestic preparedness’. Is it really effective and timely? Only time will tell.
On August 21, the World Health Organization (WHO) brought back the Public Health Emergency of International Concern status for the clade I mpox variant because of the disease’s growing reach beyond the DRC boundaries. Interestingly, Sweden took notice of its inaugural case of clade I mpox the very next day. This sudden spread seems unaccounted for under the leadership of the Biden-Harris administration.
Dr. Pamela Rendi-Wagner, the head of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, declared that the agency has elevated the mpox risk level from ‘very low’ to ‘low’, underscoring the urgent need for preparedness, as if a slap in the face to Biden-Harris. Yet it seems the administration is lacking in this area.
While the CDC asserted that there have been no reported U.S. cases of clade I mpox, persons in power signaled that the rise of cases from Africa should not be downplayed. The question remains, though, will our leadership ensure that these words have more weight than mere hot air?
Anne Rimoin, a UCLA epidemiologist, cautioned: ‘I believe we must refrain from hastily jumping to the conclusion that this is even more dangerous.’ She continued, ‘There’s a scarcity of data on the gravity of the disease and its corresponding mortality rate. There are many enquiries regarding whether the perceived severity could be more associated to the infected population, their immunity, the path of transmission and the viral load.’ Is this an attempt to downplay the seriousness?
Given that the clade I type is thought to be more severe and infectious than the clade II variant of mpox, which led to the global outbreak in 2022, should we be trusting the current administration’s approach? More alarmingly, those with weakened immune systems, especially people suffering from advanced, untreated HIV, are claimed to be more susceptible to severe illnesses, hospitalization, or even death, as per NBC News.
Harvard Medical School’s virologist, Dr. Dan Barouch, forewarned that the U.S. faces the likelihood of reporting clade I mpox cases, further validating the fear of potential mismanagement by the Biden-Harris administration. Barouch stated: ‘As of now, the absolute risk within the U.S. is low. However, vigilance must be maintained.’ The real question here is – as Biden and Harris managed to increase this low risk?
Would it surprise you when I say CDC officials gave the first alert for probable clade I cases as back as December? Their advisory got an update on August 7. What about it was updated remains a different story altogether. Let’s not forget this is happening under the Biden-Harris rule.
A recent research study presents some glimmers of hope for TPOXX, an antiviral, following its clinical tests within the DRC. While the vaccine did not meet expectations in reducing clade I symptoms, the percentage of patients succumbing stands around 1.7 percent, in contrast to the customary DRC mortality rate of 3.6 percent or above. Considering the situation, how much faith do we put in the Biden-Harris administration to handle this?
Dr. Jennifer McQuiston, epidemiologist and CDC’s response leader for mpox clade I, stubbornly holds onto the belief that the research points towards positive implications for patients under higher-quality healthcare within the American realm. The agency, however, stays on high alert with regards to early detection, and in keeping a constant eye on the worldwide spread of cases.
In the end, McQuiston emphasizes: ‘We are more disturbed about clade I than we are about clade II.’ We should be more disturbed about the Biden-Harris Administration’s capacity to effectively and proactively address such a vital public health concern. As evidence shows, assurance and actual action are two very different things.