(NEW YORK) — There are early signs that new monkeypox cases are slowing down in the U.S.
Experts are optimistic that the virus can be completely eliminated from the U.S. While challenges remain, recent improvement in vaccination efforts could lead to complete elimination but it may take years, experts say.
“Elimination is going to become more challenging because you can imagine that even if we drive cases down, there’s still going to be potentially sustained transmission,” said Dr. John Brownstein, an ABC News contributor and chief innovation officer at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Public health efforts toward behavior modification and vaccination are showing reassuring results with only 78 new cases reported on Sept. 14. Since May, nearly 60,000 cases of monkeypox have been found in over 100 countries globally.
Historically, monkeypox has been found in 10 countries in central and western African, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). But in the spring of 2022, the virus began spreading in North America, Europe and other continents that historically haven’t witnessed major, prolonged outbreaks.
“I think the goal is containment by continuing treating and educating,” said Dr. Richard Silvera, an associate program director of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship and assistant professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Monkeypox is rarely deadly but often has painful symptoms, including blisters and a rash. The virus primarily spreads through close contact, including hugging or touching someone with a rash.
To contain and hopefully eliminate the virus, experts believe it is important to monitor animals for monkeypox because animals can also carry the virus and pass it to humans.
“The way to eliminate it is to ensure that there’s no domestic animal species that becomes a reservoir,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
In previous testing efforts, several animal species have been found to be susceptible to the monkeypox virus. There is no confirmed reservoir for the virus and experts believe further studies and surveillance will be key in elimination and even global eradication.
“There’s a lot to be encouraged by” but it’s “going to depend upon if we’re able to contain this in the human population,” said Dr. Anne Rimoin, a professor of epidemiology at the University of California, Los Angeles.
In an effort to contain the global outbreak, the WHO released a public health advisory in July for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. Anyone can get monkeypox but because the current outbreak affected this group first, it has continued to spread among men who have sex with men — now the most at-risk population. The WHO is encouraging people to share only non-stigmatizing information from trustworthy sources in order to combat misinformation and help slow the spread.
Survey and vaccination data suggest that gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men are largely aware of the monkeypox outbreak and taking steps to slow the spread of the virus. Rimoin said this is due to the group being “very willing to talk about things that are complicated.”
As of mid-September, the U.S. has vaccinated nearly 500,000 people against monkeypox.
“We must continue to aggressively respond using our entire toolkit, including vaccination, testing, and education about risk to inform behavior change,” said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky.
Although many experts are cautiously optimistic about the outbreak in the U.S., others say it’s possible monkeypox is here to stay.
“We’re probably going to see monkeypox cases for years to come,” Brownstein said.
(WASHINGTON) — A hotter-than-expected inflation report last week dispelled hopes of relief for strained households and rekindled questions about U.S. policy for fighting sky-high prices.
The Federal Reserve has instituted a series of aggressive interest rate hikes in recent months as it tries to slash price increases by slowing the economy and choking off demand. But the approach risks tipping the U.S. into an economic downturn and putting millions out of work.
Moreover, the rate hikes have failed to significantly reduce prices, prompting suggestions of policy alternatives that some economists told ABC News would better address the root causes of inflation, provide relief for struggling consumers and forgo the danger posed by a possible recession.
On the other hand, some economists told ABC News that the Fed’s rate hikes are the best tool for fighting inflation but the central bank hasn’t increased them far enough. For its part, the central bank is set to impose another major rate hike on Thursday.
Economists who support policy alternatives propose measures like price controls, a windfall profits tax on some corporations that charge high prices and a dramatic expansion of U.S. production to address supply shortages.
“The inflation over the last couple of years caught a lot of people off guard,” Lauren Melodia, the deputy director for fiscal and economic policies at the research group Center for New York City Affairs at The New School, told ABC News. “There’s a way in which society wants one solution for something.”
Here’s what you need to know about alternative policy solutions for fighting inflation:
Price controls
One of the most widely discussed and controversial solutions for inflation is price controls.
The thinking behind it is simple: When prices are pummeling consumers, the government imposes a measure that prohibits companies from selling particular goods above a certain price. Milk could face one price cap, for instance; soap could face another.
Isabella Weber, an economics professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a proponent of price controls, said the limits could be targeted toward specific items that have experienced particularly sharp price increases, especially essential goods like gas and food.
“Price controls help you avoid a price explosion,” Weber told ABC News.
There is a precedent for price controls in the U.S. To stem inflation brought about by supply shortages during World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt empowered the newly created Office of Price Administration to cap prices on a slew of products. The move is widely credited with helping to limit inflation during the war, but it also gave rise to a black market for some items.
Decades later, in 1971, President Richard Nixon imposed price controls in an effort to slash inflation and ensure his re-election the following year. The controls remained in place until 1974 but were seen by many as ineffective at reining in price hikes.
The different outcomes in the 1940s and 1970s show that price controls help fight inflation but not in every case, Weber said, adding that price controls only limit inflation temporarily as other fixes address the causes behind the price pressures.
“It’s not that price controls always work or never work,” she said. “Price controls can work in certain contexts if tailored the right way.”
Some economists, however, reject the notion of targeted price controls.
“Every price is connected to every other price in the economy,” Catherine Pakaluk, a professor of economics at the Busch School of Business at Catholic University, told ABC News. “If you put certain products at bargain rates in relation to the rest of the economy, they get scooped up even faster and it generates supply shortages.”
For example, a price control on milk would prompt shoppers to load up on it and avoid comparatively high items that lack controls, such as meat, Pakaluk said.
The fear of empty shelves carries heightened concern because supply shortages remain a central cause of U.S. inflation and price controls could exacerbate that root problem even further, Pakaluk added.
“The economy is already suffering a really bad situation with shortages,” she said.
Windfall profits tax
Rather than limit prices, some solutions seek to rein in corporate profits.
A windfall profits tax rests on the premise that inflation has resulted in part from alleged price gouging committed by corporations that have reported record profits amid the inflation crisis, such as oil giants.
In theory, a tax on excessive profits should disincentivize profiteering and bring prices down.
Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., backed a bill in May that would empower a federal agency and state attorneys general to enforce a ban on excessive price hikes.
On the whole, economists sharply disagree over the extent to which excessive profits have contributed to inflation. Similarly, economists who spoke to ABC News differed on whether a windfall profits tax would bring down prices.
Benjamin Powell, a senior fellow at the Independent Institute, dismissed the solution, saying it poses the same risk as price controls: exacerbating supply shortages.
“It will just discourage some businesses from supplying goods that are already in short supply,” he said.
Melodia, of the Center for New York City Affairs, disagreed. Because businesses seek to optimize profit, the economy needs a safeguard to prevent them from doing so when prices are highly elevated, she said.
“There is so much evidence over the past couple years that corporations have had increased profits across the board – not just in the oil industry,” she said. “We don’t want companies jacking up prices because they can.”
Some economists, however, told ABC News that a windfall profits tax may push prices higher rather than bring them down.
Richard Wolff, an author and professor of economics emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, said the measure would need additional protections because otherwise it could drive companies to hike prices even more to overcome the losses imposed by the tax.
“What it becomes is an incentive to raise prices,” he said.
Ramp up production
Another policy for fighting inflation centers on an expansion of U.S. production in order to address a supply shortage.
At bottom, inflation owes to an imbalance between supply and demand. The surge in demand for goods and labor has far outpaced supply, as COVID-related bottlenecks have slowed delivery times and interrupted services while infection fears have kept workers on the sidelines.
One way to address that imbalance is to dramatically increase supply, thereby bringing it in balance with outsized demand.
Economists who spoke to ABC News largely agreed on the prudence of increased U.S. production but said it would not address immediate inflation, since the necessary output overhaul would take several years.
“It’s the most important thing we could be doing if we want sustained growth without price pressure,” J.W. Mason, a professor of economics at John Jay College, told ABC News. “We should be investing in capacity.”
The policy approach will likely take several years, he added.
“It’s not an immediate or short-term solution,” he said. “Obviously, it’s not going to limit price increases over the next months or year.”
Powell, of the Independent Institute, shared the support for increased U.S. production but opposed public investment. Instead, he said the U.S. should remove current policies that impede private sector growth.
He said he supports “lowering taxes and regulatory barriers that prevent entrepreneurs from bringing new investment.”
Regardless of where they stood on particular policies, several economists told ABC News that the U.S. needs a robust public dialogue about whether to pursue further rate hikes or explore alternatives.
“It’s a big fat mess,” said Wolff. “There should’ve been a debate before launching into interest rates. There should’ve been a discussion between political leaders and the public.”
(NEW YORK) — “Guys, these are the most comfortable bras you will ever wear,” Kim Kardashian said while giving the world a glimpse of her shapewear brand’s latest launch.
The reality TV star and businesswoman announced that SKIMS will be releasing a collection of bras on Sept. 27.
Throughout the brand’s teaser video, a wide variety of models of different sizes and shapes are shown wearing the bras in several different neutral tones.
“Over the last three years, we’ve been developing an innovative system of bras using the best technology, designing options for every need,” SKIMS said in a statement.
The brand also shared that the new line of bras features comfortable, soft materials that provide optimal shape and support that feels seamless.
While SKIMS already offered bralettes, the introduction of the underwire bras comes with the goal of blending the comfort and ease of a bralette paired with the shape and support of an underwire bra.
While no other details about the new collection have been shared just yet, SKIMS fans still have the option to shop the brand’s most recently launched fleece loungewear collection released earlier this month. The line features a mashup of hoodies, joggers, shorts and more.
Gabby Barrett and husband Cade Foehner recently got some rest and relaxation in the Bahamas.
The couple jetted off to the tropical location for a babymoon, with the singer posting photos of a white sandy beach with turquoise blue water, along with a snap of the couple all smiles after a day at the beach.
“Took a little trip to the Bahamas. What a beautiful place! Clearest water I’ve ever seen, and some of the kindest people!” the “I Hope” hitmaker writes. “We definitely got crispy out in the sun..But headed home with full hearts & praising God for beautiful creation we get to witness everyday.”
The couple is expecting their second child, a boy, this year. They welcomed daughter Baylah in January 2021.
(NEW YORK) — Fashion influencer Caitlin Covington has become a go-to for everyday outfit inspiration, with more than one million followers on Instagram.
Now, Covington has teamed up with apparel brand Liverpool Los Angeles to curate an exclusive collection for fall.
“I have been a huge fan of Liverpool jeans for many years now — the quality of their products is unmatched,” Covington said in an interview with ABC News’ Good Morning America.
Items from the collection include staples like blazers, button down shirts, sweaters and denim.
“My number one goal is for women to feel confident when wearing these pieces,” Covington said.
The pieces are made to be versatile so they can be layered or worn on their own.
“You won’t know what looks good until you actually try adding on layers — don’t be afraid to get creative and use pieces that you already own in your closet, like a waist-accentuating belt or a warm scarf,” she added.
Prep your closet for fall by shopping the collection, which is available now at Nordstrom.
Usher celebrated the 25th anniversary of his seven-times Platinum My Way album on Friday by releasing a special edition that includes “reimagined versions” of the album’s three monster hits: “My Way,” “Nice & Slow” and “You Make Me Wanna…”
As the eight-time Grammy winner reminisced about the phenomenal success of the original album in 1997, he remembered it led to him opening for Janet Jackson’s The Velvet Rope tour in 1998 and ’99.
“[She] taught me how to be a great headliner,” Usher told Complexof the ”Rhythm Nation” superstar.
“Anything I wanted to have onstage she made sure that I had, she didn’t cut my sound short, which a lot of times, you know, artists will do that. They won’t give you the full range of the entire speaker system, because they save it for themselves,” the “U Remind Me” singer continued.
“She showed me that, yo, if the show is great, people gonna remember the whole experience. People, ‘til this day, come to me and say, ‘Yo man, it was one of the greatest performances that I ever saw and I didn’t even know who you were. I’m there waiting to see Janet Jackson, and here you go walk out on this stage … This kid who really made me a fan,’” Usher fondly remembered. “That’s what makes me happy when I know I can earn it.”
Usher has taken what he learned from Janet and is “earning it” during his Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM, which he recently extended through July 2023.
Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian are officially fans of their celebrity couple name.
Speaking with E! News, the reality star says she “love[s] the name Kravis,” which fans have been using to refer to her and the Blink-182 drummer since they publicly announced their relationship in 2021.
“We refer to each other as Kravis sometimes,” Kardashian shares.
Kardashian does add that she’s confused about why she and Barker were dubbed Kravis instead of her younger sister Kylie Jenner and rapper Travis Scott, who started dating before them.
“Travis said to me the other day, ‘Is Kylie and Travis’ name Kravis also?'” Kardashian shares. “And I’m like, ‘No …’ But why wasn’t it? ‘Cause they were before us.”
She adds, “There will never be another Kravis.”
Barker and Kardashian got married earlier this year across multiple ceremonies. The honeymoon period was briefly interrupted when Barker was hospitalized in July with “severe, life-threatening pancreatitis.” Barker has since been released from the hospital and is back to performing, including playing alongside Foo Fighters at the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert earlier this month.
Michael Bublé‘s having such a good time on his Higher tour that he’s extended it into the new year: he’ll be visiting Europe starting in January. But it’s no wonder Michael wants everyone to see the tour, since he believes it’s “the best show on Earth.”
“It was always really important for me to give people value for their money. And I really wanted people to have an amazing experience,” Michael tells ABC Audio. “And I wanted people to know that they were going to come and see something that was ambitious and unique and brand new and special.”
That’s why, Michael says, he spent the 2 1/2 years the pandemic sidelined him by going to bed every night and “imagining, thinking, trying to creatively come up with how to take this to another level.”
The result of all that planning? Michael says, “I mean, I don’t know how else to say it without sounding like an egotistical fool — it’s the best show on Earth. I mean, I have the greatest musicians on Earth.”
“It’s a rock show,” he adds. “I mean, it’s like going to see an old-school entertainer but with all the bells and whistles. I mean, it is pyro and confetti and musicianship and explosive drama!”
Michael’s giving fans a chance to win tickets to his Montreal concert on October 18 by teaming up with the charity site Propeller. If you donate at the site, the money will go toward protecting LGBTQ rights through the Human Rights Campaign, The Trevor Project and The Ally Coalition — and the more you donate, the more chances you’ll have to win tickets, plus airfare and hotel.
Keith Urban feels an undeniable connection to his new single, “Brown Eyes Baby.”
In order for Keith to record a song that he didn’t write, he has to feel a personal connection to it, like he did the first time he heard “Brown Eyes,” which was co-penned by Morgan Wallen, Josh Thompson, Rodney Clawson and William Bundy.
“If I’m looking for a song that I haven’t written, it’s going to be having a reaction to it that I feel. I know the song, I know this person, I know the scene. [If] the song feels like me, that’s it,” Keith describes of his selection process.
The superstar heard “Brown Eyes Baby” for the first time in January; the song evoked a feeling he couldn’t deny and he instantly “fell in love.”
“It was one of those visceral reactions to a song that sometimes it’s more about the way I feel hearing it than anything else,” he says. “I’m not really analyzing why I like the song, I just loved it. Once I heard it a lot more, I realized it’s everything: it’s the lyric, it’s the melody, it’s the way the song is written. It just connected. It made a connection with me.”
“Brown Eyes Baby” is the third single off Keith’s upcoming album. It’s climbing up the top 40 on U.S. country radio and has peaked inside the top five in his native Australia.
Journey guitarist Neal Schon recently shared some details about his band’s concrete and potential touring plans for 2023 and beyond during pro wrestler/rock singer Chris Jericho‘s Talk Is Jericho podcast and in a separate interview with ABC Audio.
In July, Journey announced that four North American concerts that were postponed earlier this year had been moved to March 2023 and that their Freedom Tour 2022 support act Toto would be opening the rescheduled shows.
Schon revealed to Jericho that the makeup shows will be part of a full 2023 tour leg featuring Toto that will kick off in February and will include about 40 dates.
“[W]e’re gonna do the secondary markets in the United States and do some of the main markets that we didn’t hit this last time,” Neal explained.
He added that, after taking “a little break,” Journey and Toto will head to Europe and Japan, noting that Journey would open for Toto in Europe, where the latter group is more popular.
Meanwhile, Schon revealed to ABC Audio that he hoped to schedule a series of U.S. stadium shows in late 2023 that would feature Journey, Toto and Santana.
Neal, who was a member of Santana from 1971 to 1972, noted that with 2023 marking the 50th anniversary of Journey’s formation, “it makes total sense to do something with Carlos [Santana] … because that’s where I came from before I started Journey.”
Schon told ABC Audio that he talks to Carlos multiple times a week, and revealed that Santana wants to play shows with Journey, and that the guitarists have also discussed getting together to collaborate on some new music.
“[There’s] a lot of musical history there,” Neal said. “And of course … we love playing together too.”
