The Monetization of Fear

Here we go again…

This will be a short one, as time is of the essence.

The money engine is gearing up again.  All the better that it will again be hitched to politics.

The World Health Organization has declared Monkey Pox  (sorry,  mPox is now the politically acceptable name—perhaps using the term Monkey would somehow lessen the concern of the world for human infection) to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern!  The U.S.  Secretary of Health and Human Services, Becerra (whose qualifications are being a lawyer and politician according to Wikipedia) has dutifully declared it  a Public Health Emergency .   This triggers certain automatic consequences, and will last at least 90 days or until the Secretary feels the “emergency” is over.  The powers granted to the Secretary during this “emergency” are basically limitless, and formed the basis for all of the sweeping actions taken under COVID. 

The declaration was made August 4, 2024.  There are 94 inclusive days between that date and election day 2024.  What an amazing coincidence!!!!

Of course, in our postmodern world, there are NO coincidences.

But isn’t this a dangerous problem?  Shouldn’t we want to do everything we can to prevent the spread of disease?

It may come as a surprise that we ALREADY had a Monkey Pox (sorry, mPox) episode here in the United States!  In 2003, 72 cases of the disease were reported in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana, traced to imported rodents.  I was Professor of Ophthalmology at the Medical College of Wisconsin at the time, and I have to confess, I never even knew this was going on!

Although this disease is primarily contracted from exposure to infected animals, human-to-human spread is possible with close contact:

Transmission occurs by an animal bite or direct contact with the animal’s lesions or body fluids. Immunohistochemical assays for orthopoxviruses in the prairie dogs demonstrated abundant amounts of viral antigens in surface epithelial cells of lesions in conjunctiva and tongue, and less amounts in adjacent macrophages, fibroblasts, and connective tissues. Viral antigens were abundant in bronchial epithelial cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts; virus isolation and electron microscopy demonstrated active viral replication in lungs and tongue. These findings suggest that both respiratory and direct mucocutaneous exposures may be important routes of transmission of monkeypox virus between rodents and to humans.12

Monkeypox also has been spread by person-to-person transmission, most likely by respiratory droplets during direct and prolonged face-to-face contact. It also can be spread by direct contact with body fluids of an infected person or with virus-contaminated objects, such as linens, bedding, or clothing.6

The article mentions that, at the time, there was no proven, safe cure for monkeypox and there was hope for the development of a vaccine, especially for those at risk.

So, what is the difference between 2003 and today?  Why the declaration of an emergency?  Why not a public health announcement that “close personal contact” should be limited to prevent infection? The disease is primarily spread through sexual contact.   Why the  expanding barrage of media concentration on this now?  There had been @30,000 US cases as of May, 2023. In March 2024, Milwaukee even gave those getting the vaccine at a drive-through clinic  $25.00! But why is this in the news now?  Why stir the fear pot?

In my opinion, there are 2 reasons:

·      We have a federal election in November and the declaration will trigger certain “advantages”.

·      A vaccine is available, and the public has grown weary of the COVID vaccine cash cow. Monkey pox vaccines are covered  by Medicare and Medicaid and must be given to patients regardless of their ability to pay.  I wonder if the vaccine manufacturer just writes off the cost???  Nothing is “free”.  Somebody has to pay.