Mpox could surge again this summer, CDC warns

With summer festivals and gatherings on the horizon, the Centers for Disease Control is raising the alarm for a potential resurfacing of mpox — a virus that disproportionately affected gay and bisexual men last year.

“Spring and summer season in 2023 could lead to a resurgence of mpox as people gather for festivals and other events,” the agency wrote in a health alert.

Last summer, the world saw an initial outbreak of the virus, with more than 30,000 cases reported in the United States over the past year, according to the CDC. The first case of mpox in the U.S. was reported in May out of Boston; by August 2022, the pathogen peaked and spread to other parts of the country.

By early 2023, the U.S. outbreak subsided for the most part; however, large gatherings — which can be hubs for spreading viruses and other illnesses — are driving concerns about a potential resurgence this spring and summer, said Dr. Minji Kang, an infectious disease expert at UT Southwestern.

In particular, a “cluster of mpox cases” recently reported in Chicago is driving concerns about a summer spread.

“The concern is that with Pride Month coming up and an increase in festivals, there will be a resurgence in mpox cases,” Kang said.

According to the CDC, men who have sex with other men made up the majority of last year’s mpox cases. However, the disease can impact anyone — regardless of their sexual orientation.

Unlike COVID, mpox is not a seasonal virus that surges during certain times of the year. A potential summertime spread is only related to an increase in the number of scheduled festivals, often drawing crowds of people, Kang noted.

Mpox, formerly known as “monkeypox,” underwent a name change late in 2022.

Last November, WHO phased out the term monkeypox due to its relation to “racist and stigmatizing language online.” Additionally, monkeys are not the main source of spreading the virus.

Mpox is a cousin of smallpox, with both viruses causing rashes on the skin and in the mouth. Other symptoms include fever, chills and swollen lymph nodes, and the disease generally lasts anywhere from one to three weeks. It spreads primarily from prolonged skin-toskin contact, which includes hugging, sleeping in the same bed or sexual activity.

It can also be transmitted via direct contact with scabs, rashes or respiratory secretions from a person infected with mpox. Additionally, the virus can be passed from a pregnant person to a fetus through the placenta, according to the CDC.

The CDC is advising clinicians to encourage atrisk patients to vaccinate. Just 23 percent of the estimated at-risk population has been fully vaccinated.