If you have TikTok, you might have come across content surrounding the threat of another global pandemic, only this time, the supposed outbreak is of mpox, formerly known as Monkey Pox.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mpox is a contagious virus that manifests in the form of a rash and can be spread through skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or animal.
TikTok user “momsaestheticss” shared a TikTok about the supposed “monkey pox” outbreak for her California high school claiming that “Our school in California shut down from Monkeypox so we made one last TikTok.” Her TikTok, posted on Aug. 23, has amassed close to 100,000 likes, and has reached an even wider audience of 800,000 viewers.
Despite the surge in TikTok content, there is no evidence suggesting that California schools have, or plan to, shut down due to the mpox virus. As of this month, the CDC has not declared mpox to be a serious threat to the U.S. population.
Across the platform, many creators are expressing fears of a potential lockdown, like the one experienced in 2020 because of the COVID-19 virus.
Medical professionals and verified specialists have spoken out against the fears of another pandemic.
Dr. Zachary Rubin, a double board-certified pediatrician specializing in allergy treatment and immunology, who is also known as “rubin_allergy” on TikTok, addressed the supposed mpox outbreak. When asked if schools will shut down like they did in 2020, he reassured viewers that, “There is no new novel virus currently, so this is unlikely to happen.”
While the CDC reports there have been cases of mpox in the United States, it has remained stable for the last two years. On Aug. 22, 2022, the CDC announced the completion of an mpox vaccination that has become commercially available in the United States since April 1.
Find out more about mpox on the CDC website including detailed information on vaccinations, prevention and early symptoms of the virus. UNG students also have access to the on-campus student health centers and online patient portal for medical concerns or questions.
