Summary In the United States, cases of mpox formerly monkeypox have declined since peaking in August , but the outbreak is not over. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC continues to receive reports of cases that reflect ongoing community transmission in the United States and internationally. This week, CDC and local partners are investigating a cluster of mpox cases in the Chicago area.
From April 17 to May 5, , a total of 12 confirmed and one probable case of mpox were reported to the Chicago Department of Public Health. All cases were among symptomatic men.
None of the patients have been hospitalized. The median age was 34 years range 24—46 years. Although vaccine-induced immunity is not complete, vaccination continues to be one of the most important prevention measures. CDC expects new cases among previously vaccinated people to occur, but people who have completed their two-dose JYNNEOS vaccine series may experience less severe symptoms than those who have not.
Spring and summer season in could lead to a resurgence of mpox as people gather for festivals and other events. The purpose of this Health Alert Network HAN Health Update is to inform clinicians and public health agencies about the potential for new clusters or outbreaks of mpox cases and to provide resources on clinical evaluation, treatment, vaccination, and testing. Background A global outbreak of mpox began in May Previous outbreaks in places where mpox is not endemic were mostly related to international travel; however, this outbreak spread rapidly across much of the world through person-to-person contact, disproportionately affecting gay and bisexual men, other men who have sex with men MSM , and transgender people.
Most patients with mpox have mild disease, although some, particularly those with advanced or untreated HIV infection , may experience more severe outcomes. As of May 10, a total of 30, cases have been reported in the United States. This outbreak had a peak of about cases per day in August , and gradually declined, likely because of a combination of temporary changes in sexual behavior, vaccination, and infection-induced immunity[1,2].
