May 16, 2023 – A resurgence of Mpox cases this summer may very well be larger than last 12 months’s caseload, the CDC said in a warning to health officials this week.
“The outbreak is not over,” says the CDC alarm explained, noting that gatherings and festivals within the spring and summer could lead on to renewed spread of the virus. In Chicago, a brand new cluster of 13 cases is being investigated, all amongst men and 4 amongst individuals who recently traveled to New York City, New Orleans or Mexico.
Mpox, formerly called monkeypox, is a virus that causes a rash and sometimes flu-like symptoms. It is mostly transmitted through sexual contact, but will also be spread in nonsexual ways, akin to through contact with skin lesions or with saliva or upper respiratory secretions akin to snot or mucus. the CDC saysMost cases within the United States involved gay or bisexual men, men who've sex with men, and transgender people.
Last 12 months, the U.S. government declared Mpox a public health emergency when cases peaked in August at 460 per day, infected greater than 30,000 people, and killed 42. Health officials worked to quickly distribute vaccines to people at high risk of contracting the virus. According to the CDC, 23% of individuals most prone to contracting Mpox have been vaccinated.
The agency recommends that folks be vaccinated against Mpox based on their Potential exposure riskVaccination doesn't necessarily prevent infection, but it could actually reduce the severity of symptoms. Nine of the boys who recently became infected in Chicago were fully vaccinated.
“It's important to remember that while vaccines are incredibly helpful, they are not the only way to reduce the risk of contracting MPOX,” Richard Silvera, MD, MPH, assistant professor of infectious diseases on the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, told ABC News.
Other ways to scale back risk include “things like avoiding social and sexual contact when new skin lesions appear and asking close contacts whether they are experiencing symptoms or new skin changes,” Silvera said.