While monkey pox (Mpox, not to be "racist") has been swinging around the West for a while, before disappearing in a "community," there is now a new monkey in town, who means business. The latest, more deadly strain, known as Clade Ib, has now been found in the US from a person who visited East Africa, got infected and returned to the US: https://archive.is/mKoiY#selection-787.65-787.73. The older monkey pox infection has resulted in over 57,000 confirmed or suspected cases since January2024, and around 1,200 deaths in East Africa. The new version is expected to be deadlier, and as one government site says, anyone can catch it: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2024/08/23/mpox-clade-1-what-you-need-to-know/. So they say. Do I panic now and lock myself away wearing 15 masks? No way!
The potential arises once more for a repeat of the Covid years if the new virus is as contagious as the health authorities say it is. But nowadays, I don't trust them; in fact, I never did.