Monkeypox now a nationally notifiable condition – CDCTARA
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is planning to classify monkeypox disease as a “nationally notifiable” condition. The designation will allow for regular updates on reporting of data on monkeypox cases by states, direct to the CDC.
It will additionally enable the CDC to keep tabs on monkeypox even after the current outbreak recedes – this is set to take effect on August 1.
US states will be required to report confirmed or probable monkeypox cases within 24 hours. State health departments were previously not required to provide the federal government with standardized data on monkeypox.
However, the CDC has requested data to be shared even before the investigation of a monkeypox case was completed.
The rapidly-spreading monkeypox disease is caused by a virus, resulting is pus-filled skin lesions and flu-like symptoms. Monkeypox disease has only recently been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization.
According to the latest reports by the CDC, over 4,000 monkeypox cases have been recorded in the US alone.