US Cities Vulnerable to Summertime Outbreaks as Mpox Ends

The health emergency caused by Mpox is over, but authorities in the US are working to avoid a recurrence of the outbreaks that happened last year.

In 2022, there was a significant increase in Mpox infections after Pride events, resulting in over 30,000 cases in the country. The virus was primarily transmitted through sexual contact between gay and bisexual men, and around 40 people lost their lives due to the disease, as reported by AP News.

Cities at Higher Risk

(Photo : Wikimedia Commons)
Close-up of monkeypox lesions on the arm and leg of a female child. Human infection with monkeypox-like virus in 4 year-old female in Bondua, Grand Gedeh County, Liberia. This infection was caused by a pox virus of the vaccinia, variola, monkeypox type.

Health officials and event organizers are hopeful that this year's Pride events will see fewer severe cases of infection due to several factors, such as a greater supply of vaccines, more individuals with immunity, and easier access to a drug to treat Mpox. However, they are concerned that some people may view Mpox as an issue of the past and not take necessary precautions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a warning to American doctors to be on the lookout for any new cases of Mpox.

The CDC also released a study that predicts the possibility of a Mpox outbreak in 50 specific counties that are currently being targeted by the government's efforts to control sexually transmitted infections.

The research found that 10 counties are likely to experience an outbreak of Mpox this year with a probability of 50 percent or more. The computation was primarily based on the number of individuals considered vulnerable to the infection and the proportion of them who had immunity due to vaccination or past infection.

Jacksonville, Florida; Memphis, Tennessee; and Cincinnati are the cities with the highest risk of outbreaks as only 10 percent or less of the people at the highest risk have estimated immunity. Additionally, there are 25 counties with low or medium immunity levels that also put them at a higher risk for outbreaks.

The study had some limitations, such as the uncertainty regarding the duration of immunity from vaccinations or previous infections. However, the purpose of the study was to inform and caution the public, according to Dr. Chris Braden, who leads the CDC's response to Mpox.

Authorities are attempting to highlight the importance of a health issue that was considered a growing problem last summer but lost attention by the end of the year. Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that belongs to the same family as smallpox. It is commonly found in certain regions of Africa where individuals become infected through bites from small animals or rodents.

Historically, Mpox was not known to spread easily from person to person. However, in recent times, cases have emerged globally, primarily among men who have sexual contact with other men. The disease is not typically fatal, but it can result in painful skin lesions over several weeks.

Many countries were rushing to develop a vaccine or other ways to combat the disease. The World Health Organization announced a global health emergency towards the end of July and the United States followed suit by declaring their own emergency in early August.

Mpox Cases in US

The number of cases started to decrease significantly from August to December, dropping from an average of around 500 cases per day to less than 10. This decrease was due to a variety of reasons, such as the government taking action to address the shortage of vaccines and the gay and bisexual community spreading awareness and reducing sexual activity.

The emergency of Mpox in the United States was declared over in late January, and the WHO also ended its declaration earlier this month. As a result, there is less concern about Mpox this year compared to last year, according to Dan Dimant, a spokesperson for NYC Pride. He expects fewer warnings about the threat of Mpox at their upcoming events, but this may change if the situation worsens.

During the peak of the crisis, there were many people waiting in long lines to receive their shots. However, as the number of cases decreased, the demand for the vaccine also decreased. It is estimated by the government that approximately 1.7 million individuals, primarily men who engage in sexual activity with other men, are at high risk for Mpox infection. Despite this, only around 400,000 people have received the recommended two doses of the vaccine.