Government labs have enough supplies to test 8,000 samples each week but are operating at a 2 percent capacity, accounting for about 23 tests a day, Bloomberg reported June 16.
While widespread vaccinations against monkeypox are unlikely, and the virus’s trajectory so far isn’t a repeat of the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, the CDC has reported 100 confirmed monkeypox cases as of June 17. The day before, the agency reported 84 cases across 18 states and Washington, D.C.
This count may not reflect the risk, though, with only a scattering of tests performed.
“One thing we’ve learned from COVID is that availability of testing is very important,” Bryon Backenson, the director of communicable diseases at New York state’s Department of Health, told Bloomberg.
In response to the growing number of reported cases, White House senior director for global health security and biodefense, Raj Panjabi, MD, said there has been a 45 percent increase each week in monkeypox tests, according to Bloomberg.
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
