The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
New mpox cluster has health officials on alert
Chicago cases spark fears of resurgence with at-risk groups.
Mpox cases subsided following a summer outbreak in 2022, but a new cluster of cases in Chicago has public health officials on alert. With festivals and other events planned for the spring and summer, experts caution that these gatherings could lead to a resurgence in cases of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox.
The C e nters for Disease Control and Prevention reported in an advisory issued Monday morn- ing that 12 confirmed mpox cases and one probable case were reported to the Chicago Department of Public Health from April 17 to May 5. Of the 13 cases, nine were among men who had received two Jynneos vaccine doses. The CDC noted that while cases have declined, the outbreak is not over.
The announcement came on the heels of a proclamation by the World Health Organization last week that the global outbreak of mpox is no longer an inter- national emergency, citing a dramatic drop in cases in recent months.
Since a global outbreak linked to international travel began in May 2022, a total of 30,395 mpox cases had been reported in the U.S. as of May 10. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia has had 1,994 mpox cases, with eight occurring in 2023. The symptom onset was more than a month ago for the most recent case, according to Nancy Nydam, a spokesperson for DPH.
Due to the decrease in cases and end of the mpox public health emergency, DPH stopped weekly mpox reports after Feb. 8.
Time for change?
Dr. Melanie Thompson, an Atlanta-based researcher who cares for people living with HIV, says that should change.
“I think now we need to rally our data collection again because Chicago knows where their cases are and we may be having cases that are scattered around in various places but we may not know as much about them as we need to,” Thompson said. “I think it’s really important that we collect and pub- lish data on a regular basis about cases.”
Because so many in the high-risk populations of Black and Latino men who have sex with men are still unvaccinated, the CDC esti- mates there’s a 35% chance of the nation experiencing a new outbreak of mpox. During the peak of the outbreak, in August 2022, nearly 460 cases were reported daily in the U.S. If resurgent outbreaks were to occur in these communities, they have the potential to be equal to or greater than the 2022 outbreaks.
The CDC is continuing to push public health agencies to improve vaccine equity and coverage for those at risk, especially Black and Latino men who have sex with men. Additionally, along with these measures, they are urging agencies to vaccinate more people to pre- vent new cases and future outbreaks.
Nationwide, 1.2 million mpox vaccines, known by the brand name Jynneos, have been administered since the beginning of the outbreak.
Less than a quarter of the population most at risk for mpox, however, have been fully vaccinated. Black men accounted for 77% of Georgia’s mpox cases, but made up only 40% of the state’s second dose recipients as of Feb. 8.
In Georgia, that statistic holds, with 33% of the at-risk population — men who have sex with men and who have multiple sexual partners, or those with HIV — having received one dose and 23% being fully vaccinated.
Vaccines advised
Although the v a ccine doesn’t prevent all infec- tions, getting vaccinated is still recommended. While the CDC expects new cases to occur within those who got vaccinated, people who received their two-dose Jynneos vaccine series may have less severe symptoms than others who have not.
DPH officials say they have shared the CDC alert with the state’s network of providers and will begin using social media to spread information about mpox vaccinations.
Thompson added that this should not be construed as fear-mongering, but education for at-risk communities.
“One of the things we learned previously with mpox is that the most effec- tive messengers come from our communities. The most effective vaccination and education events were orga- nized and run by our communities,” Thompson said. “It’s really important that our communities stay engaged, that public health stays engaged with communities and that we work together through the summer because it is highly likely that we will see more cases of mpox.”
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