Capitol News

Michael Brown, university physician at Michigan State University and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine in the MSU College of Human Medicine, has provided updated guidance on COVID-19 and mpox, formerly known as monkeypox.

Brown advises university leadership on major health policies impacting campus life and education abroad programs. He shared insights into the current status of these two viruses.

Regarding COVID-19, Brown stated that the virus will persist for years and continues to surge in waves across the United States. "We’re seeing more cases, but the number of severe cases is much lower than the peaks we saw during the height of the pandemic," he said. Despite an increase in cases, only a small fraction require emergency department visits.

To stay healthy, Brown noted that COVID-19 mutates regularly, with recent variants becoming predominant. He anticipates a new vaccine release by the Food and Drug Administration soon and encourages everyone to get vaccinated this fall. "The effectiveness peaks about four weeks after you receive it and lasts at least four to six months — maybe longer," he added.

He emphasized that individuals who have had COVID-19, built up immunity, and received a vaccine are best protected from severe illness.

Brown described symptoms associated with current COVID-19 strains as similar to past versions: sore throat, congestion, cough, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and muscle aches.

For those testing positive for COVID-19, Brown recommended following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines: stay home, wear a mask around others, treat symptoms with hydration and acetaminophen for fever and muscle aches. After 24 hours without fever (without acetaminophen), individuals can go out in public but should wear a mask for an additional five days.

Addressing mpox, Brown explained that it is largely found in Central Africa's Democratic Republic of the Congo. A more severe variant has emerged there recently but has not spread to the United States. Mpox requires close contact for transmission and presents symptoms such as a rash starting on the face or genital area along with fever and body aches.

A vaccine is available for mpox along with an experimental drug treatment. The World Health Organization has requested research assistance from developed countries like the United States to better understand this new variant.

For further information on these topics, listeners are directed to a podcast linked here.