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Ever heard of mpox? Wonder why it’s back in the news?

Many of us first learned about mpox (formerly called monkeypox) in 2022, when the largest known outbreak spread to nearly 100,000 people in more than 100 countries. While mpox is often distributed in Central and West Africa, an outbreak in 2022 quickly spread from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to places where it had never been detected before. In the United States alone, more than 32,000 infections and 58 deaths were reported before the disease was contained.

Now a new outbreak of mpox has put it back in the news. What should you know – and do – about this latest global health emergency? What are your risks? Are vaccines available? If you get mpox, how can you avoid spreading it?

What is different about the 2024 mpox outbreak?

This time, a new strain of the virus (called Clade 1b) is spreading rapidly. As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared another global health emergency for mpox in August 2024.

More than 15,600 cases and 500 deaths have already been reported, mostly in the DRC. And mpox has been found in countries that previously had no reported cases, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Recent cases identified in Sweden and Thailand have public health officials bracing for further international spread, including to Asia, Europe and the United States.

6 things to know about mpox

What is mpox and how is it spread?

Mpox is a viral infection caused by the same family of viruses as smallpox. In Central and West Africa, it is common in some animals, including squirrels and rats. People can become infected after contact with infected animals. Mpox can spread from person to person through close physical contact, including sex.

What are the symptoms of mpox?

Mpox causes flu-like symptoms, fever, headache, enlarged lymph nodes, and a unique rash. The rash usually starts a few days after the illness as small flat spots. The spots develop over a week or two and become small fluid-filled blisters (vesicles) similar to chicken pox, and then larger pus-filled blisters. After another week or two, the blisters will scab over and heal. When that happens, you are no longer contagious.

Although the disease is usually mild, some develop complications. Serious complications include pneumonia, vision loss from an eye infection, and sepsis, which is a life-threatening infection.

What is your risk of getting mpox?

Location and activities play a role in your risk of developing mpox.

The risk increases if you

• have close physical contact with an infected animal or person
• have contact with bedding, clothing or other objects or surfaces touched by an infected person
• live in or visit a place where the mpox virus is endemic – this means it is present in the environment, such as in the soil or infected animals or people
• is a man who has sex with men
• have many roommates.

When people get mpox, risk factors for experiencing more serious illness or complications such as pneumonia include:

• pregnancy
• young age (especially children under 1 year old)
• with a weak immune system
• with eczema (because this weakens the protective skin).

Why is this mpox outbreak so worrying?

The current outbreak of mpox is of particular concern because the strain of the virus is deadlier than in 2022. The virus is spreading faster and reaching places where mpox had not previously been found.

In addition, the current outbreak has disproportionately affected children and adolescents, many of whom are already suffering from malnutrition or other infections such as cholera.

Are there mpox vaccines and treatments?

There are two vaccines available to prevent mpox in the United States:

• Jynneos is approved for the prevention of smallpox and smallpox. Two doses are required four weeks apart.
• A vaccine called ACAM2000 is approved to prevent smallpox and is considered effective against the vaccine. It may be accessible if needed, but its potential side effects make it an alternative choice.

Resource-poor countries in Africa, Asia and elsewhere have had limited access to vaccines. Even in resource-rich countries like Europe and the United States, vaccine reluctance has been an obstacle to containing the epidemic. In one study, only half of susceptible Illinois residents received the initial dose of mpox vaccine, and only a quarter received both recommended doses.

An antiviral drug called tecovirimat is approved to treat smallpox. Animal studies suggest that it may also be effective in treating mpox. The drug is currently being studied as an mpox treatment and may be available by enrolling in a trial. A 2024 study found that tecovirimat did not reduce the length of time adults and children with Clade 1 mpox had symptoms. However, the mortality rate (1.7%) was half of what was expected. But it is unclear whether the low death rate was actually due to the chemotherapy.

How can someone with mpox avoid spreading it?

If you are diagnosed with mpox, it is important to take these steps to avoid infecting others:

• Avoid close contact with others until your skin lesions have healed.
• Wear a well-fitting medical mask while around others; those who visit you should also wear a mask.
• Stay a few feet or more away from others.
• Use a separate bedroom and bathroom.
• Clean all surfaces you have touched.
• Do not share eating utensils, towels or bedding with others.
• Increase room ventilation by opening windows or using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.

Some experts recommend avoiding contact with pets or other animals because they could become infected and spread the disease to new species of animals in new places.

The result

Will mpox be the next pandemic? It is unlikely. The virus that causes mpox is spread mainly by direct contact—unlike the virus that causes COVID-19, which spreads through small respiratory droplets that are easily inhaled. Also, people with mpox that is contagious usually have obvious symptoms, so they can take steps to avoid spreading it.

Currently, the risk mpox poses to most people in the United States appears to be quite low. To help ensure it stays that way and to help countries where mpox is common, US public health officials are working with their counterparts in other countries to contain the outbreak. To succeed we need a strong. a well-coordinated international effort, including financial support to resource-poor countries to fund education programs, vaccinations, testing and treatment.