The emergence of Clade I Mpox, often referred to as Monkeypox, has recently raised significant health concerns across the United States, particularly following the first confirmed case reported in California. On November 16, 2024, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) confirmed this initial occurrence related to the larger outbreak primarily affecting regions in Central and Eastern Africa.
This case surfaced when the individual, who had traveled from Africa, exhibited symptoms consistent with Mpox after arriving back home. The California health officials acted quickly, emphasizing the importance of isolations and monitoring, stating, “The affected individual received health care... [and] is isolat[ing] at home and recover[ing].” The CDPH is also actively conducting contact tracing to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to the infected person.
The Mpox virus can be spread by intimate contact, highlighting the urgency for public health campaigns and vaccination efforts, especially among individuals at higher risk. Public health officials have made it clear: anyone can contract Mpox. Nevertheless, certain demographics are more vulnerable, particularly men who have sex with men (MSM), as they comprise the majority of confirmed cases during the recent outbreaks.
The recent upsurge of Mpox cases has already been observed within Los Angeles County, where infections have doubled within just one month. Health authorities report 52 new cases over the past four weeks, significantly more than the previous count of 24. Dr. Sonali Kulkarni from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health noted this rise coincides with increased social and sexual activity prevalent over the summer months. She remarked, “This is acting... as a sexually transmitted infection because it’s spread by very close physical and intimate contact.”
Experts attribute various factors to this alarming increase. For starters, there’s been greater awareness and testing for the virus since excessive media coverage of the Clade I outbreak has heightened public concern. Dr. Kulkarni added, “We think there’s... increased attention to mpox because of the news coverage of what’s been going on in Central and Western Africa.”
The role of vaccinations cannot be understated. Health officials assert the majority of recent cases arose from individuals who were unvaccinated, which raises questions about public immunity levels—two-thirds of recent cases fall within this category. “We just don’t have enough immunity,” Dr. Kulkarni noted. This emphasizes why at-risk populations are being urged to get vaccinated with the JYNNEOS vaccine, which has shown to provide significant protection against the disease.
Public health guidance recommends getting both doses of the two-dose vaccination to fully safeguard against Mpox. It typically takes about six weeks to achieve full immunity post-vaccination, and individuals should be reminded to complete their vaccination regimens, as only receiving one dose is insufficient.
Meanwhile, just as concern arises about the sometimes severe nature of Clade I Mpox, the CDC continues to monitor transmission patterns with the use of mathematical models to predict potential outbreaks. By evaluating population immunity levels and transmissibility, researchers aim to assess the likelihood of Clade I Mpox spreading within the MSM community across various counties.
The existing modeling indicates counties with higher levels of immunity seem to experience smaller outbreaks. Reports suggest if population-level immunity exceeds 50%, the chances of larger outbreaks are minimized. Conversely, areas with low vaccination uptake and immunity have greater susceptibility to severe outbreaks. Tackling this with increased vaccination efforts is deemed necessary, even as only about 25% of those recommended for the vaccine have completed the necessary doses.
Despite the grim projections, the public risk remains considered low by health officials. “The affected individual... related to theongoing outbreak...is recovering,” stated the CDPH, reassuring the public as contact tracing and public health efforts are ramped up.
Continuing support from the public is invaluable. Individuals are encouraged to seek out vaccines at community health clinics and be mindful of the physical interactions they engage in, particularly if at risk. Besides skin-to-skin contact, Mpox can be communicated through shared personal items, so maintaining proper hygiene and caution are emphasized.
Nevertheless, should the unthinkable happen and more cases emerge, public health systems will mobilize, equipped with lessons learned from previous outbreaks. Already, the experiences gained from the COVID-19 pandemic serve as guiding principles for response efforts: prompt recognition, contact tracing, and stringent vaccination efforts.
With increased vigilance and community cooperation, responding to Mpox’s challenge can potentially alleviate the latest health scare. Though cases are rising, there’s still time for preventive action before things spiral out of control.
