Mpox is a rare but dangerous infection recently declared an international public health concern.
Earlier this month the World Health Organization declared a recent upsurge of mpox – formerly monkeypox – “constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.” but it is not the new COVID-19.
The rise in cases worldwide is predominately in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries in Africa, however a public health emergency of international concern is the highest level of warning under international health law. County Public Health says that locally there have been no changes or cause for alarm.
“The risk to the general public is low as is the case also for those at higher risk for infection,” Tara Kennon, a public information specialist with County Public Health, told Estero Bay News. “Health officials say that while mpox can be devastating for those who are affected, it is unlikely to spread as widely or affect as many people as COVID-19. They are very different viruses and illnesses.”
Mpox is an infectious viral disease that can spread from infected humans, animals, and materials contaminated with the virus. It is caused by a relative of the smallpox virus and spreads primarily through close, intimate, often skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact, with people who have mpox symptoms such as rash and sores, which can look like pimples, blisters, or an ingrown hair, and flu-like symptoms, says the County’s Public Health website.
The State CDC says, mpox is usually a mild infection with symptoms lasting from two to four weeks. But it can cause severe illness and rarely death.
Certain people may be at higher risk for severe illness including:
• people with weakened immune systems
• infants under 1 year old
• people with a history of eczema
• people who are pregnant or breastfeeding
“There has been no evidence that mpox is spread by casual contact,” the State CDC says, “with other people such as attending an outdoor event with fully clothed people, trying on clothes or shoes at a store, traveling on a plane or other public transit, swimming in a pool or body of water, or going to other public settings such as a grocery store, restaurants, workplaces, restrooms.”
Infections in the current global outbreak, including in California, are rarely fatal. However, symptoms can be extremely painful. Some people might have permanent scarring from the rashes and sores.
“Since May 2022, there has been an uptick in cases in parts of the world where mpox does not usually occur, including here in California,” the County site states. “While new cases have slowed since then, the virus is still circulating in California. In 2023-24, a separate outbreak of mpox has grown in the Democratic Republic of Congo and nearby regions.”
Kennon said that the WHO declaration is primarily about making international resources (including testing supplies and vaccine) available to respond to and contain the outbreaks currently happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and nearby regions.
“One of the goals of this response is to stop the virus from spreading more widely internationally,” Kennon said. “While one case related to the DRC outbreaks was identified last week in Sweden, none have been reported in the U.S.”
On August 15, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported “The risk to the general public in the United States from the type of mpox circulating in the DRC is very low. CDC has made this assessment due to the limited number of travelers and no direct commercial flights from DRC or its neighboring countries to the United States. The risk might change as more information becomes available, or if cases appear outside central and eastern Africa.”
That said, SLO Public Health Department is following the issue, in coordination with the California Department of Public Health and CDC and will alert our community if the risk to the public in SLO County increases.
There is a vaccine. In SLO County, CAPSLO’s The Center for Health and Prevention can provide vaccine by appointment to patients age 18+ or ask your healthcare provider. Find vaccine appointments at other clinics statewide at the California Department of Public Health’s MyTurn.ca.gov. Locally, call 805-544-2478 (SLO) or 805-489-4026 (Arroyo Grande) or email thecenter@capslo.org
“Right now, the two-part vaccine series is considered complete with no need for additional boosters. We don’t know if that will change in the future,” Kennon said. “We strongly encourage anyone living with HIV to get vaccine protection against mpox. Vaccine is also strongly encouraged for anyone who has been exposed to mpox because it can prevent mpox infection if given within four days of the exposure. If given 4-14 days after the exposure, the vaccine may not prevent an infection but may still prevent severe symptoms.”
The vaccine is not currently recommended for people other than those who are considered at-risk populations, which includes people:
• Are living with HIV
• Have had close contact with someone diagnosed with mpox, during the time that person had symptoms. This could be through one-on-one contact or by attending a large event with lots of close contact and later learning that someone at the event was diagnosed with mpox.
• Identify as gay, bisexual, and other men or trans people who have sex with men, or
• Identify as sex workers of any sexual orientation or gender identity, including those who engage in transactional or survival sex, or
• Are sexual partners of people with the above risks, or
• Anticipate experiencing the above risks, or
• Are health care workers who are likely to examine or collect laboratory specimens from persons with mpox.
Readers can find updates at slocounty.gov/mpox and sign up to receive emails if the risk to the public changes.
