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American Morning

Monkeypox Outbreak in United States

Aired June 09, 2003 - 08:38   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get some health news in here now. We're going to turn to a potentially fatal virus that pet prairie dogs might be spreading in the upper Midwest.
Our Headline News medical correspondent, Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, is at CNN Center in Atlanta.

Dr. Sandy, good morning. Thanks for being with us.

DR. SANDA FRYHOFER, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Thank you.

KAGAN: Talking about monkeypox. What the heck is monkeypox? I've never even heard of it.

FRYHOFER: Well, it's a rare disease. It was first recognized in humans back in 1971, and it's primarily seen in the rain forests of West and Central Africa. And it's a disease that's usually seen in animals, but now there have been human cases reported in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. And this is the first -- these are the first reported cases of human monkeypox in the Western hemisphere. There have been about 32 cases reported so far, most have been in Wisconsin. No one's died so far, but several people have been hospitalized.

And the CDC is telling veterinarians, who take care of rodents like prairie dogs, Gambian rats, rabbits, to wear gloves, masks and protective clothing just to be safe.

KAGAN: So, what happens when you get monkeypox?

FRYHOFER: Well, it's a condition that's similar to smallpox, but it's not as infectious. It's fatal in about 1 to 10 percent of cases. And children seem to -- young children seem to be hit the hardest. It can be treated with an antiviral medication called Cidofovir, and the smallpox vaccination is protective against monkeypox.

KAGAN: OK, very good. I guess if you think you have symptoms or have a prairie dog and are feeling sick, check with your doctor.

FRYHOFER: That's right.

KAGAN: Very good. Dr. Sandy Fryhofer -- Sandy, thank you so much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.





Aired June 9, 2003 - 08:38   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get some health news in here now. We're going to turn to a potentially fatal virus that pet prairie dogs might be spreading in the upper Midwest.
Our Headline News medical correspondent, Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, is at CNN Center in Atlanta.

Dr. Sandy, good morning. Thanks for being with us.

DR. SANDA FRYHOFER, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Thank you.

KAGAN: Talking about monkeypox. What the heck is monkeypox? I've never even heard of it.

FRYHOFER: Well, it's a rare disease. It was first recognized in humans back in 1971, and it's primarily seen in the rain forests of West and Central Africa. And it's a disease that's usually seen in animals, but now there have been human cases reported in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. And this is the first -- these are the first reported cases of human monkeypox in the Western hemisphere. There have been about 32 cases reported so far, most have been in Wisconsin. No one's died so far, but several people have been hospitalized.

And the CDC is telling veterinarians, who take care of rodents like prairie dogs, Gambian rats, rabbits, to wear gloves, masks and protective clothing just to be safe.

KAGAN: So, what happens when you get monkeypox?

FRYHOFER: Well, it's a condition that's similar to smallpox, but it's not as infectious. It's fatal in about 1 to 10 percent of cases. And children seem to -- young children seem to be hit the hardest. It can be treated with an antiviral medication called Cidofovir, and the smallpox vaccination is protective against monkeypox.

KAGAN: OK, very good. I guess if you think you have symptoms or have a prairie dog and are feeling sick, check with your doctor.

FRYHOFER: That's right.

KAGAN: Very good. Dr. Sandy Fryhofer -- Sandy, thank you so much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.