What is Mpox?
Learn About the Risks and Prevention
Mpox is a vaccine-preventable, viral disease that can cause symptoms such as a painful rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes and can result in serious complications.
Anyone can be infected with mpox, but most cases have been among groups considered more at-risk. This includes gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, transgender or nonbinary people.
How Mpox Spreads
Mpox can be passed from person to person from skin-to-skin (including sexual) contact.
Most common transmission occurs from:
Contact with infectious skin or other lesions, bodily fluids, or respiratory secretions
Contaminated objects, such as bedding, clothing, or linens
Bites and scratches from or contact with infected animals
Local resurgences continue to pose a threat to at-risk groups, such as travelers attending gatherings that may place them in close contact with someone who has mpox.
On July 23, 2022 the WHO declared the 2022 mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and on August 4, 2022, the United States declared the ongoing spread of the virus to be a public health emergency. As of August 2022, the outbreak had caused tens of thousands of cases in >90 countries, predominately among men who have sex with men; as previously noted, transmission has been associated with close skin-to-skin contact.
Vaccination Is an Important Tool in Stopping the Spread of Mpox
Vaccines are the cornerstone of managing infectious disease outbreaks and helping to reduce the risk of future epidemics and pandemics.
Ongoing mpox outbreaks continue to pose a threat. Vaccination helps you protect yourself.
An estimated 70% of the population has no immunity against any zoonotic orthopoxvirus infections, including mpox.
Domestic transmission in the US is unlikely to be eliminated due to potential for continued travel-related introductions.
Mpox virus has evolved several strategies to evade the body’s immune response.
Eradication is impossible due to the existence of an animal reservoir.
How Mpox Evolved
Mpox evolved from an endemic zoonotic disease to a global outbreak in 2022. Before that, mpox is believed to have
been transmitting in humans for at least 5 years.
Initial Mpox Virus Isolation to Global Human Outbreaks
1958
Mpox virus isolated from pox lesion in animal in Denmark
1959
Mpox virus identified as the cause of pox infection in an animal
1970
1st human case detected in DRC
1970-2003
Endemic to the rainforests of Central and Western Africa
2003
1st human case outside of Africa documented in US
2016
Sustained human transmission believed to begin
2022
Human cases (14,533) spread to 72 countries
2022
WHO declares Public Health Emergency of Int’l Concern (PHEIC)
2023
Human cases (85,000) spread to 110 countries
Global Statistics
As of August 2023, about one-third of global mpox cases have occurred in the US since the start of the 2022 outbreak.
As of August 2023, 31,000 cases have been reported in the US, accounting for ~33% of cases globally.
As of August 2023, 50 deaths have been reported in the US.