New Mpox Cases Spark Fears of Summer Resurgence
A spike in mpox cases in Chicago have health experts worried that the summer might usher in another wave of infections — especially since some of the new cases are among people who have been vaccinated, according to NBC News.
"On Monday [May 8], Howard Brown Health, an LGBTQ-focused clinic in Chicago, reported eight new cases of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, since April 17," the account detailed. "By comparison, only one case, also diagnosed at Howard Brown, was reported to the Chicago Public Health Department in the previous three months."
Mpox is similar to chicken pox in that it manifests as painful skin lesions. Most people fully recover in a few weeks, and the disease is rarely fatal — but it is highly infectious, and can be spread from skin-to-skin contact or even by sharing towels or linens.
Mpox cases were seldom seen outside of Africa until last year. The global outbreak was thought to have gained traction at two raves in Europe — one in Belgium and one in Spain — while in the U.S. the International Mr. Leather Conference in Chicago was thought to have acted as a superspreader event.
Many reported cases affected gay and bisexual men, which triggered fears of prejudice-based stigmatization that could hinder efforts to halt the spread of the disease.
In terms of the latest trend noted in Chicago, NBC News reported that "Public health experts expressed measured concern that, similar to other cases of infections that are transmitted through sexual contact, mpox cases could rise during the summer, especially as gay and bi men travel to Pride festivals and other major LGBTQ events."
The article quoted White House deputy coordinator of national response to the disease Dr. Demetre Daskalakis as saying, "Without renewed vaccination and prevention efforts, we are at risk for a resurgence of mpox."
Dr. Daskalakis emphasized that the emergence of new cases among people who had been vaccinated was not a reason for people who might be more likely to be affected to skip the preventative measure.
"Vaccine is a really important tool, even if it's not perfect," Dr. Daskalakis noted.
As with COVID, being vaccinated for mpox can help protect patients from the worst of the disease even if they do contract it, NBC News noted, explaining that in Chicago the "eight cases were mild, none of them requiring treatment for pain."
The focus on inoculations against mpox was driven in part from a concern that not enough people were getting the appropriate shots. "One of our major concerns is that our population at risk are under-vaccinated," Dr. Leanna Gordon of Howard brown told NBC News. "We haven't had as much interest in the vaccine as we would like."
NBC also pointed out that, according to the CDC, it's estimated that "only 1 in 4 of those most at risk, including gay and bi men and transgender people, have been fully vaccinated."
The increase noted in Chicago is not unique. "Diagnosed cases have been 'increasing slightly' in eight countries in the past three weeks, including France and several countries in east Asia, said Dr. Rosamund Lewis, the technical lead for mpox at the World Health Organization," NBC News detailed. "About half of the recent French cases were in vaccinated people."