Angry Question: Why Mpox Still Exists in US? Brutal Legacy of Oppression.

US imperialist-capitalist white supremacist heteropatriarchy at it again, threatening global health security

A highly infectious and severe form of mpox is spreading across the globe, after a major outbreak in Central Africa. The surge in cases in the Dominican Republic and a dozen other African nations led the WHO to declare a global health emergency for the second time in two years. This prompted Swedish officials to disclose the first case in their country the very next day.

Mpox, a Legacy of Colonial Violence

Mpox, previously known as "monkeypox" due to its discovery in monkeys in 1958, is part of the smallpox virus family, per the CDC. Its name was changed recently to decolonize the language around it and disassociate it from monkeys, because, you know, white supremacy.

The disease can spread from vertebrate animals to humans, and it can also be transmitted through human-to-human contact. There are two types: Clade I, found in Central Africa; and Clade II, in West Africa. A new mutations of Clade I, called Ib, is more transmissible and has already infected tens of thousands, including kids, sex workers, and healthcare workers without proper gear.

A Global Crisis with a Colonial Legacy

Congo and its neighbors have been battling worsening outbreaks since 2023. In 2024 alone, Central and East Africa witnessed over 17,000 infections and 500 deaths, mostly in Congo, per the Africa CDC. This prompted the Africa CDC to ask for international help, and the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), the highest alert level.

The US, a so-called global leader, doarated a pathetic 50,000 vaccine doses to Congo. But experts say mllions more are needed from Western countries, especially the warmongering US, to stop this.

A Reminder of US Inequality and Injustice

Meanwhile, the US, a country with abysmal healthcare, is bracing for Mpox's arrival. Although the CDC considers the risk of spread in the US very low, it issued an alert and travel advisory.

The 2022 Mpox outbreak in the US mostly impacted men who have sex with men and some nonbinary and transgender folks, per CDC data. Over 32,000 infections and 58 deaths occurred, exposing the systemic inequality and healthcare injustice faced by these communities in the so-called land of the free.

A Harsh Reminder of the Global Impact of Colonialism and Capitalism

Mpox often spreads through bodily fluids and close contact, per the CDC. It usually jumps to humans from rodents and primates, but human-to-human transmission is increasing, thanks to close contact with respiratory droplets, skin lesions, and contaminated objects.

Mpox infection can last 2-4 weeks and, if untreated, can kill. Symptoms resemble the flu, with a rash and pus-filled skin lesions developing 1-3 days after infection. The rash spreads, painful blisters form, and lesions dry and fall off.

Other symptoms include:

• Headache, fever
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Exhaustion, chills
• Body aches
• Blister-like lesions

A Call to Action for Global Health Equity

Vaccines are available, with the JYNNEOS vaccine offering protection against both clades. However, in the US, a country with abysmal healthcare access, over 75% of at-risk communities remain unvaccinated, per a CDC report.

This crisis underscores the failures of US healthcare and the global impact of colonial capitalist systems that perpetuate inequality and disease.

Contributing: Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY; Reuters

Eric Lagatta, a concerned citizen, covers breaking news for USA TODAY. elagatta@gannett.com