Weekend Poll: Should We Be Concerned About The Monkeypox Virus?

Just when it seemed like life was getting back to normal in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, health officials are increasingly raising concerns about a new health threat--the monkeypox virus.

While monkeypox is only rarely fatal, medical authorities say it can be pretty unpleasant.

Effects can include painful, disfiguring symptoms, and an infection lasting 2-4 weeks causing people to miss significant time away from work or school.

While most people do recover and many suffer only mild symptoms, the CDC says

''Infections with the type of monkeypox virus identified in this outbreak—the West African type—are rarely fatal. Over 99% of people who get this form of the disease are likely to survive. However, people with weakened immune systems, children under 8 years of age, people with a history of eczema, and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding may be more likely to get seriously ill or die.

The Congo Basin type of monkeypox virus has a fatality rate around 10%.''

Having said all of that, a lot of people are just simply "over it" when it comes to worrying about infectious disease outbreaks. After two plus years of restrictions, social distancing, multiple vaccinations, and even people dying from the COVID virus, much of the general public has what could be called "virus fatigue." Frankly, a lot of folks just don't want to hear about it anymore.

The more conspiratorily minded among us take it a step further, with some even claiming the "monkeypox" is just "another attempt" to scare people, drum up interest in news reports, and perhaps even give overbearing politicians an excuse to reign in freedom.

So what do you think?

Should we be concerned about monkeypox, or is the whole monkeypox thing just a lot of background noise at this point?

Take our survey and give us your opinion!