Mpox Infections on the Rise: Over 570 Cases Reported in the US So Far; People At Risk Encouraged To Get Vaccinated

With the surge of mpox cases, health officials are urging people at risk to get vaccinated.

Mpox Infections on the Rise in the US

So far, there have been over 570 mpox cases detected in the US this year. This number is close to double the number observed this time last year.

While this rate is not near the mpox peak rates in early 2022, when an average of 470 new mpox cases were seen in the US each week, the data shows that mpox still circulates and that individuals who are at risk still need to be vaccinated.

Dr. Jenni McQuiston, the deputy director of the High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology division of the CDC, explains that the majority of cases seen involve either under-vaccinated or unvaccinated individuals.

Ever since May 2022, when the US was hit by the viral outbreak, over 30,000 cases were seen in the country. Most of these cases took place in 2022. When 2023 started, rates of infection apparently became slower, with 298 cases recorded in the US between January 1 and March 23, 2023.

For this year, over 110 cases were reported in New York City, while 50 were in Florida and 64 were in California.

Mpox Virus

Mpox, previously referred to as monkeypox, is a condition caused by a relative of a variola virus which is now eradicated. Mpox viruses have two vast types, namely, clade I and II.

Clade I has a higher likelihood to lead to serious and fatal disease, in comparison to Clade II.

Though Clade I has not yet been picked up in the US so far, it is possible for travelers to bring the virus to the country from other areas.

Generally, mpox viruses could lead to symptoms like the flu. These symptoms may include fatigue, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle aches. However, during the peak outbreak in 2022, not all mpox cases involved these symptoms. The characteristic pox rashes of the disease usually begin as discolored patches that progress into blisters, raised bumps, and huge, pus-filled pimples.

Depending on the specific case, the rashes could first appear on the face or oral cavity and then spread to the body's extremities. They could also show up initially around the anus or genitals.

Individuals with severely weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV, people with eczema history, children below the age of one year, and individuals who are pregnant have a higher risk of severe mpox disease. The infection typically spreads via close contact with a person who is infected, especially when getting into contact with their rashes.

Mpox Vaccinations

In the US, the most commonly used mpox vaccine is JYNNEOS, which protects a person against both Clade I and II. The vaccine is administered in two separate doses with an interval period of one month.

A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their second injection. There are currently no recommended booster shots.

Not everyone is recommended to get vaccinated. Rather, there are very specific groups who are advised to get vaccinated as they have been identified to be at risk and are considered eligible for these doses.

Though anybody can get infected with the virus, the disease has been observed to disproportionately affect transgenders, gender-diverse individuals, and men who engage in sex with fellow men. This has been seen since the beginning of the outbreak. Given this, individuals belonging to these groups who have recent diagnosis of STI or who have more than one sex partner recently are recommended to get vaccinated.

However, based on CDC data, mpox vaccinations for these groups and other groups that are at risk is still not as high. Huge proportions of the population that are at risk still end up missing either both or one dose.

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