Limited U.S. Threat from Mpox as Africa Faces New Outbreak

The World Health Organization this week declared the Mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This declaration highlights the urgent need for international collaboration to control the spread of mpox in Africa.

WHO Public Health Emergency Declaration

While the outbreak poses health risks in the DRC, the threat in the US and Arizona is limited. Right now the only real risk factor is travel to Central Africa, specifically the DRC.

The risk of widespread transmission is likely to remain low in the US in part due to the availability of the JYNNEOS vaccine which is effective at preventing infection. Many high risk persons (MSM) received that vaccine back in 2022 when Arizona reported about 500 cases of the illness.

Also, persons planning to travel to the DRC can get the vaccine before they leave- whether or not they are likely or not to have direct skin to skin contact on their trip to central Africa.

Labs in Arizona are required to report mpox cases to the ADHS. County health departments will do contact tracing to identify contacts and take protective measures like encouraging mpox vaccination if cases are eventually reported here.