Biden says monkeypox cases something to ‘be concerned about’

President Joe Biden mentioned Sunday that current cases of monkeypox which have been recognized in Europe and the United States have been something “to be concerned about.”

In his first public feedback on the illness, Biden added: “It is a concern in that if it were to spread it would be consequential.”

The president was requested concerning the illness as he spoke to reporters at Osan Air Base in South Korea, the place he visited troops earlier than taking off for Japan to proceed his first journey to Asia as president.

“They haven’t told me the level of exposure yet but it is something that everybody should be concerned about,” Biden mentioned. He added that work was underway to decide what vaccine may be efficient.

Jake Sullivan, Biden’s nationwide safety adviser, instructed reporters aboard the flight to Tokyo that the United States has a provide of “vaccine that is relevant to treating monkeypox.”

“We have vaccine available to be deployed for that purpose,” he mentioned. Sullivan mentioned Biden was getting common updates on the outbreak.

Monkeypox is never recognized outdoors of Africa, however as of Friday, there have been 80 confirmed cases worldwide, together with at the very least two within the United States, and one other 50 suspected ones.

Although the illness belongs to the identical virus household as smallpox, its signs are milder. People often get better inside two to 4 weeks with no need to be hospitalized, however the illness sometimes is lethal.