US braces for possible arrival of severe strain of Mpox, officials say

The United States is bracing for the possible arrival of a more severe version of the Mpox virus, which has killed nearly 1,000 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African countries, senior government officials have said. More than 24,800 cases of the group 1B virus have been reported, according to World Health Organization statistics.

In August, the WHO declared the outbreak a global public health emergency. Since then, several days later, cases of clade 1B have been confirmed in Sweden, Thailand and Pakistan.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says clade 1B is very serious and can kill up to 10 percent of people infected, though recent mortality rates have hovered around 1-3.3 percent. A different version of Mpox, clade 2, triggered a global outbreak in 2022 and a surge in cases in the U.S.

The US government says it is preparing for cases

Senior Biden administration officials have said that as infections have surged in Africa, the U.S. is now preparing for its own cases. “We have been preparing for the arrival of clade 1 in the United States for many months, especially as we saw the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries accelerate,” officials said at a news conference.

Officials say the government is now expanding its Mpox surveillance efforts, through wastewater testing, and is reaching out to the medical community to educate members on what to watch for, including the severity of clade 1B and how it spreads.

Mpox tests are now available to everyone

Officials are also taking Mpox testing seriously. The CDC says doctors can now order an Mpox test that can be done at a national lab, and if the result is negative for clade 2, the doctor can make a presumptive diagnosis of clade 1. However, the diagnosis will need to be officially confirmed by the CDC.

Vaccines are promoted

Health officials are also encouraging those with the highest risk factors — primarily gay and bisexual men — to get vaccinated against the virus. The Jynneos vaccine is administered in two doses. The CDC says it is highly effective against Mpox virus clades 1 and 2.

Those with health insurance can also get vaccinated at major retail pharmacy chains, such as Walmart. However, the vaccine is available for free at public health departments and community health centers.

Mpox causes flu-like symptoms and painful lesions that spread through direct skin contact, including sexual activity. Intensified efforts are aimed at controlling and preventing the spread of this new strain and protecting public health.