Mpox Cases Continue Decreasing in 2023

The World Health Organization (WHO) published the Multi-country Mpox outbreak, External situation report #15, confirming Mpox cases recently increased by 716 new cases (0.8%) and nine new related fatalities.

However, reported cases have been steadily declining globally as of February 2, 2023.

From January 2022 through January 30, 2023, a cumulative total of 85,449 laboratory-confirmed cases of mpox and 89 deaths have been reported from 110 countries/territories/areas in all six WHO Regions.

As of the end of January 2023, the ten countries that have reported the highest cumulative number of cases globally are the USA (n = 29 891), Brazil (n = 10 739), Spain (n = 7518), France (n = 4128), Colombia (n = 4066), Mexico (n = 3768), the United Kingdom (n = 3735), Peru (n = 3723), Germany (n = 3692), and Canada (n = 1460).

Together, these countries account for 85% of the mpox cases reported globally.

And among the most common symptom is rash (79%), followed by fever (57%) and systemic and genital rash (50% and 44%), respectively.

The main demographic features of the outbreak, such as age and sex, remain unchanged.

Most affected people are young men between 29 and 41 years.

Although sexual contact is the most reported transmission route, fewer persons affected sexually identify as gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men. The most reported exposure setting is the household.

In the U.S., HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra recently announced that the emergency expired on January 31, 2023. 

However, Bavarian Nordic JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN) vaccine remains available at various clinics and pharmacies in the USA.

Additional Mpox outbreak news is posted at MonkeypoxToday.com.