Here’s another reason why you shouldn’t take the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as this should be enough. A Friday study by the CDC recommended that face masks be worn to protect against monkeypox.
Problem? Problem?
This week’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) contained research on the spread of the monkeypox virus through contaminated surfaces. This study focused on two people who were both infected with the virus and lived together.
“To assess the presence and degree of surface contamination of household objects contacted by monkeypox patients, [Utah Department of Health and Human Services (UDHHS)] swabbed objects in the home of the patients,” the report explained. “The patients identified high-contact objects and surfaces for sampling; the patients also described cleaning and disinfection activities performed within the home during their illness and locations within the home where they spent substantial amounts of time while ill.”
A total of 30 samples were examined from the house. 21 surfaces had positive results for real-time polymerase chains reaction (PCR). None of the samples showed signs of infection.
The CDC tried to persuade us to conceal and to take additional steps to prevent monkeypox spreading through surfaces. Researchers wrote:
“Monkeypox virus primarily spreads through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact with the rash, scabs, lesions, body fluids, or respiratory secretions of a person with monkeypox; transmission via contaminated objects or surfaces (i.e., fomites) is also possible. Persons living in or visiting the home of someone with monkeypox should follow appropriate precautions against indirect exposure and transmission by wearing a well-fitting mask, avoiding touching possibly contaminated surfaces, maintaining appropriate hand hygiene, avoiding sharing eating utensils, clothing, bedding, or towels, and following home disinfection recommendations.”
Other studies show that men with sexual relationships with men are more likely to be infected by the virus than women. The New England Journal of Medicine actually published a study that showed that 98% of infected men were either gay or bisexual. Two percent of the cases didn’t fall into this category.
The findings show that masking does not protect the right part of the body. Maybe people need to focus their attention lower. Nevertheless, the CDC still thought it would take a shot at promoting masking again, even though it’s about as effective as filling up a pool with an eyedropper. This is when it may be relevant to ask if we will ever have faith in the CDC.