The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will review and potentially issue this recommendation to U.S. doctors once approved by the director.
Government health advisers have emphasized that gay and bisexual men, particularly those at high risk for mpox infection, should continue to receive vaccinations even after the current outbreak subsides
Last year, over 30,000 cases of mpox were reported in the U.S., but this year, the number has significantly decreased to about 800. Despite this drop, any individual case is considered an outbreak due to the virus’s non-natural circulation in the country.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, stems from a virus related to the one causing smallpox. It is prevalent in certain regions of Africa, typically transmitted through bites from rodents or small animals.
Although the virus wasn’t previously known to spread easily among humans, there was a surge in cases among gay and bisexual men in Europe and the U.S. during the spring and summer of 2022. While fatalities were infrequent, many gay and bisexual men experienced weeks of painful skin lesions.
The Jynneos vaccine, administered in two doses, has become a crucial defense
It is particularly recommended for gay and bisexual men with multiple partners, recent history of sexually transmitted diseases, or higher susceptibility to infections through sexual contact. Of the eligible 2 million, approximately 500,000 individuals in the U.S. have received the recommended vaccine doses, according to CDC officials.
This new advisory aims to underscore the ongoing presence of the virus and the potential for infection during international travel. The daily average of new cases in the U.S. ranges from one to four gay and bisexual men, though some cases may go undiagnosed, as per CDC statements. Since the mpox outbreak last year, there have been a total of 54 reported deaths in the U.S.
San Francisco saw over 800 cases last year, but the count has dwindled to an average of one per month in the first half of this year. However, there was a slight increase to seven gay and bisexual men cases in August, 20 last month, and at least 10 so far this month. Dr. Stephanie Cohen from San Francisco‘s health department notes improvement but acknowledges that there are still more cases than ideal.
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