As monkeypox spreads globally, Americans share their concerns

Residents in New York and Virginia shared their level of concern over monkeypox after the World Health Organization declared the virus a global health emergency.

« Sometimes I feel like there’s a lot of fear mongering going on, » Charity, from Virginia, told Fox News. « They’re trying to make us scared. »

But another Virginian, Letitia, said monkeypox is « definitely something to be concerned about. »

« If you touch someone whose got monkeypox and they have like a rash or a scab, it can be transmitted that way, or you touch maybe something that they touched it can be transmitted that way, » Letitia said. « That’s scary. »

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Letitia, from Virginia, says there is definitely cause to be concerned about the monkeypox virus. (Jon Michael Raasch/Fox News Digital)

Cases in the US have grown to over 3,500 – with the majority in New York – since the first case was confirmed in May, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Monkeypox, similar to smallpox, causes a puss-filled rash, fever and aches. Children and people with immune deficiencies tend to face more severe cases.

« The fact that [the WHO] did declare that level of critical mass is very scary, » Greg, from Virginia, said. « I’m waiting for how we need to better prepare for this and if it’s time for masks again. »

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Test tubes labeled « Monkeypox virus positive and negative » are seen in this illustration taken May 23, 2022.
(Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo)

Charity, from Virginia told Fox News: « I got COVID-19, and I was like I’m really probably gonna die because of how they made it seem. »

« When I had COVID-19, it wasn’t really that bad, so it’s probably the same situation, » she continued.

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The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has killed more than one million people in the US since January 2020, according to the WHO.

Charity, from Virginia, says there was a lot of fear mongering around COVID-19. (Jon Michael Raasch/Fox News Digital)

Layla – born with comorbidities – said she is only moderately concerned about contracting monkeypox, but people should respect those in fear.

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« I do want to take it seriously, » Layla said. « But seeing how I first heard about it two months ago and it didn’t ramp up in the same way that COVID-19 did, I’m not going to say that I’m going to avoid going everywhere and just stay shut in my house because of it. »

A New Yorker said she doesn’t « have a lot of energy left to be worried » after enduring more than two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

« I mean I wouldn’t want to get it, but I’m not doing anything to not get it, » she said.

Megan Myers reported from New York City and Jon Michael Raasch reported from Alexandria, Virginia.