Use of Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Vaccine for the Management of Mumps Outbreaks in Canada
What Is Mpox, And Why Is This Outbreak So Concerning?
The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa a global health emergency, the highest level of alarm under international health law. It follows a public health emergency declaration that the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention made for the continent Tuesday.A deadlier strain of the virus, clade Ib, is spreading quickly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has reached at least four previously unaffected countries in Africa. The risk of additional international spread is "very worrying," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said."It was unanimous that the current outbreak of mpox, upsurge of mpox, is an extraordinary event," said Dimie Ogoina, chair of WHO's emergency committee. "What we have in Africa is the tip of the iceberg. … We are not recognizing, or we don't have the full picture of, this burden of mpox."Experts around the world are monitoring the situation closely. For now, the current risk to the United States is thought to be low. Here's what to know.What is mpox?Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease related to the now-eradicated smallpox virus. It can spread through close contact such as touching, kissing or sex, as well as through contaminated materials like sheets, clothing and needles, according to WHO.Initial symptoms are typically flu-like — including fever, chills, exhaustion, headache and muscle weakness — often followed by a painful or itchy rash with raised lesions that scab over and resolve over a period of weeks.What is different about this outbreak?Mpox is characterized by two genetic clades, I and II. A clade is a broad grouping of viruses that has evolved over decades that has distinct genetic and clinical differences.Clade II was responsible for a global outbreak that was also declared to be a global health emergency from July 2022 to May 2023.But the new outbreak is driven by clade I, which causes more severe disease. The subtype that's responsible for most of the ongoing spread, clade Ib, is relatively new."Because of a number of different factors, Ib has emerged as a new mutation that is adapted to humans," said Dr. Daniel Bausch, senior adviser for global health security at FIND, a global nonprofit focused on health equity.The virus is often transmitted from animals to humans, he said. But once a mutation adapts, it can be transmitted by humans and drive larger outbreaks.Clade Ib is new and concerning, but the current situation is compounded by multiple overlapping outbreaks."We are not dealing with one outbreak of one clade; we are dealing with several outbreaks of different clades in different countries with different modes of transmission and different levels of risk," Tedros said Wednesday.How dangerous is it?Some outbreaks of clade I mpox have killed up to 10% of people who get sick, although more recent outbreaks have had lower death rates, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The fatality rate for clade II is less than 0.1%.Certain groups – including infants, people with severely weakened immune systems and pregnant women – are more likely to have more severe infections.Still, surveillance of mpox is quite incomplete, and there's much more to learn, Bausch said."This is a virus that is in the environment and presumably maintained in small mammals in Africa, and we don't have the proper diagnostics, really," he said. "It's not necessarily hard to diagnose mpox infection when you have a laboratory right next to you, and skilled laboratory workers, and the technology. But of course, most of these cases are often seen in very rural areas, so trying to get a sample and get it to a laboratory is a difficult thing."Our understanding of transmissibility and fatality risk may be skewed by limitations that tend to detect only the most severe cases, he said. Regardless, increased spread raises the public health burden and the number of individuals affected."It's a disease that causes a lot of pain and suffering, a lot of fear, a lot of panic," Bausch said.Where is mpox found?For decades, mpox had largely been found in Central and West Africa. The vast majority of cases of clade I were from Central Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the vast majority of clade II were from Nigeria.In 2022, concern grew when cases started spreading in Europe and in North America.Broader international spread is a key reason why mpox has been declared a global health emergency, but the geographic pattern of the current outbreak is different than it was during the outbreak two years ago.Now, mpox is reaching more countries in Africa that had previously been unaffected. While the vast majority of cases are still concentrated in the DRC, cases have also been reported in at least 13 countries across the continent, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.And on Thursday, Sweden confirmed its first case of clade I mpox, marking the first time it has been found outside Africa."We've all heard a million times that no one's safe till everyone's safe," Bausch said, especially with how common international travel is. "There are many reasons to be concerned and jump on it early."There's also an element of equity and human rights, he said. The global health emergency declaration from 2022 set a precedent, and similarly concerning patterns of transmission across multiple countries in Africa deserve as much urgency and attention as spread in high-income countries.How can the spread be contained?Vaccines to protect against mpox are available, but they're not widely accessible in Africa.No cases of clade I mpox have been identified in the United States, but the U.S. CDC recommended last week that people in the U.S who are exposed to or at high risk of catching mpox should get vaccinated.The Vaccine Alliance, known as Gavi, has up to $500 million to spend on supplying mpox vaccines to countries affected by the disease outbreak, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding countries. Beginning in 2026, Gavi will establish a global stockpile of mpox vaccines, similar to its existing stockpiles for cholera, Ebola, meningitis and yellow fever vaccines, a news release detailed Thursday.But WHO emphasized that vaccines are only part of the response; containing the spread will also require increased surveillance, diagnostics and research to fill "gaps in understanding."The organization has signed off on the Emergency Use Listing process for both mpox vaccines and developed a regional response plan requiring $15 million, with $1.5 million released from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies. Half a million doses of the vaccine are in stock, and another 2.4 million could possibly be produced by the end of the year, according to Tim Nguyen of the WHO Health Emergencies Program. The DRC and Nigeria will be the first to receive these vaccines, African Regional Emergency Director Dr. Abdou Salam Gueye added.CNN's Maya Davis and Caitlin Danaher contributed to this report.
The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa a global health emergency, the highest level of alarm under international health law. It follows a public health emergency declaration that the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention made for the continent Tuesday.
A deadlier strain of the virus, clade Ib, is spreading quickly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has reached at least four previously unaffected countries in Africa. The risk of additional international spread is "very worrying," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
"It was unanimous that the current outbreak of mpox, upsurge of mpox, is an extraordinary event," said Dimie Ogoina, chair of WHO's emergency committee. "What we have in Africa is the tip of the iceberg. … We are not recognizing, or we don't have the full picture of, this burden of mpox."
Experts around the world are monitoring the situation closely. For now, the current risk to the United States is thought to be low. Here's what to know.
What is mpox?Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease related to the now-eradicated smallpox virus. It can spread through close contact such as touching, kissing or sex, as well as through contaminated materials like sheets, clothing and needles, according to WHO.
Initial symptoms are typically flu-like — including fever, chills, exhaustion, headache and muscle weakness — often followed by a painful or itchy rash with raised lesions that scab over and resolve over a period of weeks.
What is different about this outbreak?Mpox is characterized by two genetic clades, I and II. A clade is a broad grouping of viruses that has evolved over decades that has distinct genetic and clinical differences.
Clade II was responsible for a global outbreak that was also declared to be a global health emergency from July 2022 to May 2023.
But the new outbreak is driven by clade I, which causes more severe disease. The subtype that's responsible for most of the ongoing spread, clade Ib, is relatively new.
"Because of a number of different factors, Ib has emerged as a new mutation that is adapted to humans," said Dr. Daniel Bausch, senior adviser for global health security at FIND, a global nonprofit focused on health equity.
The virus is often transmitted from animals to humans, he said. But once a mutation adapts, it can be transmitted by humans and drive larger outbreaks.
Clade Ib is new and concerning, but the current situation is compounded by multiple overlapping outbreaks.
"We are not dealing with one outbreak of one clade; we are dealing with several outbreaks of different clades in different countries with different modes of transmission and different levels of risk," Tedros said Wednesday.
How dangerous is it?Some outbreaks of clade I mpox have killed up to 10% of people who get sick, although more recent outbreaks have had lower death rates, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The fatality rate for clade II is less than 0.1%.
Certain groups – including infants, people with severely weakened immune systems and pregnant women – are more likely to have more severe infections.
Still, surveillance of mpox is quite incomplete, and there's much more to learn, Bausch said.
"This is a virus that is in the environment and presumably maintained in small mammals in Africa, and we don't have the proper diagnostics, really," he said. "It's not necessarily hard to diagnose mpox infection when you have a laboratory right next to you, and skilled laboratory workers, and the technology. But of course, most of these cases are often seen in very rural areas, so trying to get a sample and get it to a laboratory is a difficult thing."
Our understanding of transmissibility and fatality risk may be skewed by limitations that tend to detect only the most severe cases, he said. Regardless, increased spread raises the public health burden and the number of individuals affected.
"It's a disease that causes a lot of pain and suffering, a lot of fear, a lot of panic," Bausch said.
Where is mpox found?For decades, mpox had largely been found in Central and West Africa. The vast majority of cases of clade I were from Central Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the vast majority of clade II were from Nigeria.
In 2022, concern grew when cases started spreading in Europe and in North America.
Broader international spread is a key reason why mpox has been declared a global health emergency, but the geographic pattern of the current outbreak is different than it was during the outbreak two years ago.
Now, mpox is reaching more countries in Africa that had previously been unaffected. While the vast majority of cases are still concentrated in the DRC, cases have also been reported in at least 13 countries across the continent, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
And on Thursday, Sweden confirmed its first case of clade I mpox, marking the first time it has been found outside Africa.
"We've all heard a million times that no one's safe till everyone's safe," Bausch said, especially with how common international travel is. "There are many reasons to be concerned and jump on it early."
There's also an element of equity and human rights, he said. The global health emergency declaration from 2022 set a precedent, and similarly concerning patterns of transmission across multiple countries in Africa deserve as much urgency and attention as spread in high-income countries.
How can the spread be contained?Vaccines to protect against mpox are available, but they're not widely accessible in Africa.
No cases of clade I mpox have been identified in the United States, but the U.S. CDC recommended last week that people in the U.S who are exposed to or at high risk of catching mpox should get vaccinated.
The Vaccine Alliance, known as Gavi, has up to $500 million to spend on supplying mpox vaccines to countries affected by the disease outbreak, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding countries. Beginning in 2026, Gavi will establish a global stockpile of mpox vaccines, similar to its existing stockpiles for cholera, Ebola, meningitis and yellow fever vaccines, a news release detailed Thursday.
But WHO emphasized that vaccines are only part of the response; containing the spread will also require increased surveillance, diagnostics and research to fill "gaps in understanding."
The organization has signed off on the Emergency Use Listing process for both mpox vaccines and developed a regional response plan requiring $15 million, with $1.5 million released from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies. Half a million doses of the vaccine are in stock, and another 2.4 million could possibly be produced by the end of the year, according to Tim Nguyen of the WHO Health Emergencies Program. The DRC and Nigeria will be the first to receive these vaccines, African Regional Emergency Director Dr. Abdou Salam Gueye added.
CNN's Maya Davis and Caitlin Danaher contributed to this report.
Who Should Get The New RSV Vaccines? Here's Everything You Need To Know
Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus that spreads seasonally. A new drug and several vaccines that prevent the infection have recently come to market.
Here's what you need to know about the three vaccines and one injectable drug that were recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to fight RSV.
Related: Who should get the new COVID vaccines? What to know about the 2023-2024 shots
How serious is RSV?Most people who contract RSV develop only cold-like symptoms, like a runny nose, decreased appetite, coughing and sneezing. Mild infections usually resolve without medical treatment. However, RSV can be severe and potentially fatal in infants, young children and older adults.
RSV season typically runs from fall to spring, although its timing has been disrupted in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Every year in the U.S., the virus leads to approximately 2.1 million doctor's visits among children younger than 5 and about 58,000 to 80,000 hospitalizations in the same age group, the CDC estimates. It's the most common cause of hospitalization in infants, and annually, 100 to 300 children under 5 die from the infection in the U.S.
The children at highest risk include premature babies, infants, children under age 2 who were born with heart disease or have chronic lung disease, and children with weakened immune systems or neuromuscular disorders.
Among adults ages 65 and older, RSV leads to 60,000 to 160,000 hospitalizations each year and about 6,000 to 10,000 deaths in the U.S. Older adults at the highest risk include those with chronic heart or lung disease, those with weakened immune systems, and those living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities. RSV infections in this age group can also worsen existing conditions, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and congestive heart failure.
Is there a vaccine for RSV?Yes, there are three FDA-approved vaccines for RSV. All three are approved for use in older adults, while one — called Abrysvo — is cleared for both older adults and pregnant people.
The FDA approved the first-ever RSV vaccine in May 2023. The shot, called Arexvy and made by the pharmaceutical company GSK, is approved for adults ages 60 and older.
The vaccine contains an adjuvant, a substance that revs up the immune system, and a lab-made version of a protein found on the surface of the virus. The virus uses this fusion, or "F" protein, to break into cells. The shot trains the immune system to recognize what the F protein looks like in its "prefusion" form, the shape it's in before it infects cells.
The second RSV vaccine approved by the FDA is called Abrysvo. Made by Pfizer, the shot was approved for older adults in May 2023 and for pregnant people in August 2023. Like Arexvy, Abrysvo contains lab-made prefusion F proteins. Neither vaccine contains preservatives, according to their drug labels.
The third vaccine is called mResvia and made by the company Moderna. Approved in May 2024, the shot is approved for use in adults ages 60 and older. Rather than carrying proteins, the vaccine contains a genetic molecule called mRNA that encodes instructions for human cells to build the prefusion F protein themselves.
In older adults, GSK's Arexvy and Pfizer's Abrysvo offer similar protection against RSV-associated "lower respiratory tract disease" (LRTD), meaning infections that affect the lungs.
In the first RSV season after vaccination, GSK's Arexvy lowers the chance of RSV-related LRTD by 82.6% and the risk of having to see a doctor for LRTD by 87.5%. A year after receiving one dose of vaccine, participants entered their second RSV season post-vaccination; data collected at that time showed that the shot was still 56.1% effective at preventing LRTD.
By comparison, in the first RSV season, Pfizer's Abrysvo is 88.9% protective against LRTD and 84.6% effective at preventing doctor's visits for LRTD. It's 78.6% protective against LRTD in the second season, based on data from part of a subsequent season, according to a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) from the CDC.
In February 2024, Pfizer released additional evidence that one dose of its vaccine is highly protective for two consecutive seasons in older adults.
When given in pregnancy, Abrysvo protects newborns by providing them with anti-RSV antibodies that cross the placenta and likely also crop up in breast milk. Abrysvo is specifically approved for use between week 32 and 36 of pregnancy; in clinical trials, this timing resulted in the most protection for newborns. The babies' risk of severe LRTD was slashed by 91.1% within 90 days of birth and by 76.5% within 180 days. The risk of LRTD of any severity was cut by 34.7% in the first 90 days and 57.3% in the first 180 days.
In trials with older adults, Moderna's mResvia vaccine was nearly 79% protective against LRTD with two or more symptoms and about 81% protective against LRTD with three or more symptoms. This effectiveness waned over the course of months to 47% and 48%, respectively.
Who should get an RSV vaccine?In summer 2024, the CDC updated its guidelines for which older adults should get an RSV vaccine.
It now says that all adults ages 75 and older should get one dose of any of the available vaccines. Younger adults ages 60 to 74 can also consider getting a shot if they have a high risk of contracting severe RSV infections. That would apply to people with chronic heart disease or weakened immune systems, as well as those who live in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, for example.
At the time of this update, the CDC noted that the benefit of the vaccines may not outweigh the potential risks in people ages 60 to 74 with no major risk factors. That's because the Pfizer and GSK shots come with a slightly increased risk of the neurological syndrome called Guillain-Barré. This side effect is rare but still slightly more common among recipients of the vaccines than those in the same age range who haven't gotten them.
(As of August 2024, there aren't signals that the Moderna vaccine carries this same risk.)
Regarding using Abrysvo in pregnancy, the CDC has recommended that, during RSV season, pregnant people should get one dose of RSV vaccine between weeks 32 and 36 of gestation. The agency noted that most newborns likely need protection from the prenatal vaccine or from an antibody drug (as described later in the article), but not both.
"However, for example, if a baby is born less than two weeks after maternal immunization, then a doctor may recommend that the baby also receive the infant immunization," the CDC added.
No. There is no approved RSV vaccine for children.
However, newborns will get indirect protection in their early months of life if their parents receive an RSV vaccine during pregnancy. This protection comes from RSV-fighting antibodies that pass through the placenta. The shot doesn't result in a permanent "memory" of RSV in the child's immune system, like a vaccine given in childhood would.
Is there a drug to prevent RSV in children?Yes, there are two antibody-based drugs available to protect infants from RSV.
Note that, if a pregnant person gets a prenatal RSV vaccine, their infant likely doesn't need an antibody drug on top of that, the CDC has said. But in select cases — for example, if a baby is born less than two weeks after maternal immunization — their doctor may also recommend an antibody drug.
In August 2023, the FDA approved a drug called Beyfortus (generic name nirsevimab-alip). The shot contains lab-made proteins that mimic antibodies made by the immune system. Called a monoclonal antibody, this type of drug doesn't train a child's immune system to make its own RSV-fighting antibodies, like a vaccine would. Instead it provides a ready-made supply. The one-time shot protects children for about five months, the length of an average RSV season, the CDC states.
The CDC temporarily tweaked some of its recommendations for the 2023-2024 RSV season, due to shortages of Beyfortus. But as of August 2024, the agency recommends one dose for all infants ages 8 months old and younger who are born during or entering their first RSV season.
It also recommends one dose for infants and children ages 8 to 19 months who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease and who are entering their second RSV season. This would include children with compromised immune systems, for instance.
Caregivers should consult a health care provider about which RSV antibody drug is available and right for their child.
In addition to Beyfortus, an older antibody shot against RSV, called Synagis (generic name palivizumab), is available. It was first approved in 1998. However, only children at the highest risk of severe disease, not healthy children, should be given this drug, the CDC recommends.
"Palivizumab is limited to children under 24 months of age with certain conditions that place them at high risk for severe RSV disease," the CDC states. "It must be given once a month during RSV season."
For example, Synagis is recommended for premature babies, especially those with chronic lung disease, and infants with certain heart diseases. This limited usage is partly due to the drug's high cost and the fact that it requires at least one and up to five shots a month during RSV season.
Editor's note: This article was last updated on Aug. 6, 2024, after the CDC updated its guidance for which older people should get an RSV vaccine. It was originally published on Aug. 24, 2023.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.
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Monkeypox: The First Human Case Of Mpox Was Recorded In 1970
Discovery and HistoryMonkeypox virus was discovered in 1958, when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research. Despite being named "monkeypox" originally, the source of the disease remains unknown. Scientists suspect African rodents and non-human primates (like monkeys) might harbor the virus and infect people.
The first human case of mpox was recorded in 1970, in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2022, mpox spread around the world. Before that, cases of mpox in other places were rare and usually linked to travel or to animals being imported from regions where mpox is endemic.
Mpox (monkeypox) is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever. Most people fully recover, but some get very sick.
Anyone can get mpox. It spreads from contact with infected:
Last year, reported cases increased significantly, and already the number of cases reported so far this year has exceeded last year's total, with more than 15 600 cases and 537 deaths
If you have mpox:
The disease mpox (formerly monkeypox) is caused by the monkeypox virus (commonly abbreviated as MPXV), an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family, which includes variola, cowpox, vaccinia and other viruses. The two genetic clades of the virus are clades I and II.
The monkeypox virus was discovered in Denmark (1958) in monkeys kept for research and the first reported human case of mpox was a nine-month-old boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, 1970). Mpox can spread from person to person or occasionally from animals to people. Following eradication of smallpox in 1980 and the end of smallpox vaccination worldwide, mpox steadily emerged in central, east and west Africa. A global outbreak occurred in 2022–2023. The natural reservoir of the virus is unknown – various small mammals such as squirrels and monkeys are susceptible.
TransmissionPerson-to-person transmission of mpox can occur through direct contact with infectious skin or other lesions such as in the mouth or on genitals; this includes contact which is
The virus then enters the body through broken skin, mucosal surfaces (e g oral, pharyngeal, ocular, genital, anorectal), or via the respiratory tract. Mpox can spread to other members of the household and to sex partners. People with multiple sexual partners are at higher risk.
Animal to human transmission of mpox occurs from infected animals to humans from bites or scratches, or during activities such as hunting, skinning, trapping, cooking, playing with carcasses, or eating animals. The extent of viral circulation in animal populations is not entirely known and further studies are underway.
People can contract mpox from contaminated objects such as clothing or linens, through sharps injuries in health care, or in community setting such as tattoo parlours.
Signs and symptomsMpox causes signs and symptoms which usually begin within a week but can start 1–21 days after exposure. Symptoms typically last 2–4 weeks but may last longer in someone with a weakened immune system.
Common symptoms of mpox are:
For some people, the first symptom of mpox is a rash, while others may have different symptoms first.
The rash begins as a flat sore which develops into a blister filled with liquid and may be itchy or painful. As the rash heals, the lesions dry up, crust over and fall off.
Some people may have one or a few skin lesions and others have hundreds or more. These can appear anywhere on the body such as the:
Some people also have painful swelling of their rectum or pain and difficulty when peeing.
People with mpox are infectious and can pass the disease on to others until all sores have healed and a new layer of skin has formed.
Children, pregnant people and people with weak immune systems are at risk for complications from mpox.
Typically for mpox, fever, muscle aches and sore throat appear first. The mpox rash begins on the face and spreads over the body, extending to the palms of the hands and soles of the feet and evolves over 2-4 weeks in stages – macules, papules, vesicles, pustules. Lesions dip in the centre before crusting over. Scabs then fall off. Lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes) is a classic feature of mpox. Some people can be infected without developing any symptoms.
See also Routine lab tests are not a reliable way to diagnose long COVID
In the context of the global outbreak of mpox which began in 2022 (caused mostly by Clade IIb virus), the illness begins differently in some people. In just over a half of cases, a rash may appear before or at the same time as other symptoms and does not always progress over the body. The first lesion can be in the groin, anus, or in or around the mouth.
People with mpox can become very sick. For example, the skin can become infected with bacteria leading to abscesses or serious skin damage. Other complications include pneumonia, corneal infection with loss of vision; pain or difficulty swallowing, vomiting and diarrhoea causing severe dehydration or malnutrition; sepsis (infection of the blood with a widespread inflammatory response in the body), inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), heart (myocarditis), rectum (proctitis), genital organs (balanitis) or urinary passages (urethritis), or death. Persons with immune suppression due to medication or medical conditions are at higher risk of serious illness and death due to mpox. People living with HIV that is not well-controlled or treated more often develop severe disease.
DiagnosisIdentifying mpox can be difficult as other infections and conditions can look similar. It is important to distinguish mpox from chickenpox, measles, bacterial skin infections, scabies, herpes, syphilis, other sexually transmissible infections, and medication-associated allergies. Someone with mpox may also have another sexually transmissible infection such as herpes. Alternatively, a child with suspected mpox may also have chickenpox. For these reasons, testing is key for people to get treatment as early as possible and prevent further spread.
Detection of viral DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the preferred laboratory test for mpox. The best diagnostic specimens are taken directly from the rash – skin, fluid or crusts – collected by vigorous swabbing. In the absence of skin lesions, testing can be done on oropharyngeal, anal or rectal swabs. Testing blood is not recommended. Antibody detection methods may not be useful as they do not distinguish between different orthopoxviruses.
More information on laboratory confirmation of mpox can be found here.
Treatment and vaccinationThe goal of treating mpox is to take care of the rash, manage pain and prevent complications. Early and supportive care is important to help manage symptoms and avoid further problems.
Getting an mpox vaccine can help prevent infection. The vaccine should be given within 4 days of contact with someone who has mpox (or within up to 14 days if there are no symptoms).
It is recommended for people at high risk to get vaccinated to prevent infection with mpox, especially during an outbreak. This includes:
Persons who have mpox should be cared for away from other people.
Several antivirals, such as tecovirimat, originally developed to treat smallpox have been used to treat mpox and further studies are underway. Further information is available on mpox vaccination and case management.
Self-care and preventionMost people with mpox will recover within 2–4 weeks. Things to do to help the symptoms and prevent infecting others:
Do
Do not
To prevent spread of mpox to others, persons with mpox should isolate at home, or in hospital if needed, for the duration of the infectious period (from onset of symptoms until lesions have healed and scabs fall off). Covering lesions and wearing a medical mask when in the presence of others may help prevent spread. Using condoms during sex will help reduce the risk getting mpox but will not prevent spread from skin-to-skin or mouth-to-skin contact.
OutbreaksAfter 1970, mpox occurred sporadically in Central and East Africa (clade I) and West Africa (clade II). In 2003 an outbreak in the United States of America was linked to imported wild animals (clade II). Since 2005, thousands of suspected cases are reported in the DRC every year. In 2017, mpox re-emerged in Nigeria and continues to spread between people across the country and in travellers to other destinations. Data on cases reported up to 2021 are available here.
In May 2022, an outbreak of mpox appeared suddenly and rapidly spread across Europe, the Americas and then all six WHO regions, with 110 countries reporting about 87 thousand cases and 112 deaths. The global outbreak has affected primarily (but not only) gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men and has spread person-to-person through sexual networks. More information on the global outbreak is available herewith detailed outbreak data here;
In 2022, outbreaks of mpox due to Clade I MPXV occurred in refugee camps in the Republic of the Sudan. A zoonotic origin has not been found.
Here's the list of negotiated prices for a 30-day supply that will start in 2026, and their discount from the 2023 list prices:
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