Monkeypox becoming endemic in the US would be the “worst public health failure in modern times” because it could have been prevented, says former FDA director Scott Gottlieb

Writing in the op-ed, Gottlieb said should the disease become endemic, it would be a serious failure because this could have been prevented

If monkeypox gains a permanent foothold in the US and becomes an endemic virus that joins our circulating repertoire of pathogens, it will be one of the worst public health failures in modern times,” he said

“Not only because of the pain and peril of the disease, but also because it was so avoidable,” he added

He pointed out that — unlike when Covid first emerged — there were already reliable vaccines and tests available to stop the disease in its tracks

Gottlieb said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) failed to act rapidly

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that infectious disease is likely to lead to more fatalities

In India, a 22-year-old youth from Kerala died last week reportedly due to monkeypox

He returned to the state on July 21 from the UAE and was admitted to a private hospital on July 27 after developing encephalitis and fever

With new confirmed and suspected cases being reported, the country’s tally rises to 8