What You Need to Know About Mpox | News and Stories

For the first time in two years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that it will begin selling MPOX (formerly known as monkeypox) Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

The news follows a previous global outbreak that spread to the United States in May 2022 and peaked in August of the same year.

This latest outbreak is a new strain of MPOX that has been concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other African countries but has not yet been identified in the United States.

To learn more about MPOX, its risks, and whether you should get vaccinated, we Elizabeth A. Talbot, MDInfectious disease and global health specialist at Dartmouth Health.

What is mpox?

Mupox The disease is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, which is thought to have started spreading in parts of Africa in the 1950s. It belongs to the same family of viruses as the variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. There are two main lineages, but so far only the earlier lineage has been identified in the United States.

What are the symptoms of MPOX?

Mpox symptoms generally resemble those of smallpox, but are usually milder. The most common symptom is a rash that turns into small hard nodules and develops blisters filled with clear fluid that then heal. It can be confused with other rash diseases such as chickenpox, syphilis, and shingles. The rash is very painful, itchy, and leaves scars as it heals. Other symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and fatigue.

While this earlier strain was rarely fatal, people with weakened immune systems were still at risk for more severe illness and sometimes death.

How is this new variant different and how will it affect the U.S.?

The new mpox strain, called Clade I, is more contagious than Clade II, causing more severe infections and a higher mortality rate.

As of September 2024, no new lineage I strains have been identified in the United States. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) It is unclear how Clade I will affect Americans, but at this time we expect the risk to most Americans to be very low.

What is the situation with older strains in the US?

The impact of the previous lineage, clade II, on Americans appears to be contained since the start of the 2022 epidemic. 32,000 There have been 60 reported cases in the country. The outbreak peaked in August 2022, and the CDC does not track cases in the United States. Low infection rate.

Mpox is most commonly transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person, but in rare cases can also be transmitted through contact with animals or contaminated materials.

Between humans, MPOX virus is usually transmitted in the following ways:

• Direct skin-to-skin contact (hugging, massaging, kissing)
• Sexual contact
• Direct contact with saliva and respiratory secretions
• Prolonged face-to-face contact

Pregnant women can also transmit MPOX to their fetus during pregnancy or to their newborn during or after birth.

Additionally, MPOX can spread to anyone through contact with fabrics, objects, or surfaces that have not been disinfected after use by someone infected with MPOX.

Are there approved vaccines for both these mpox strains?

Yes. Regulators in the United States, Europe and other high-income countries JYNNEOS Vaccine During the 2022 outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) has also just approved the use of a vaccine against the new virus in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DCR) and other low- and middle-income countries.

Should I get vaccinated?

In the United States, the CDC does not recommend the MPOX vaccination for the general public or anyone who is sexually active. However, you should talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated if:

• You have been identified as a close contact of an MPOX infected person.
• You have found out that someone you have had sexual contact with within the past 2 weeks has been diagnosed with MPOX.

Additionally, men who have sex with men, or transgender or gender diverse people who have sex with men, are encouraged to get vaccinated if any of the following apply to them:

• Had three or more new sexual partners in the past month
• Have group or anonymous sex
• Engaging in sexual acts at venues or events where sexual acts are conducted
• Taking HIV prevention medication (HIV PrEP)

What else should I know about the vaccine?

mpox vaccine It is a two-dose series. The Ministry of Health New Hampshire and Vermont We can provide you with more information: Although no vaccine is 100% effective, vaccination can reduce the chance of MPOX infection and reduce the severity of symptoms.

Any new news from the CDC?

On September 23, the CDC Health Updates Regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, travellers to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries with persistent endosymptomatic genotype I poliovirus transmission are advised to be aware of activities associated with cases and to receive two doses of JYNNEOS if specific sexual exposures are anticipated.

On the other hand, the agency reiterated that no domestic cases of clade I mpox have been confirmed in the United States at this time, and recommended continued caution. CDC Vaccine Guidelines It protects against clade II infections, which continue to be prevalent in the United States, and can also help prevent clade I infections.

If you have further questions, contact your healthcare provider.