Even though the infectious disease is surging in a continent an ocean away, mpox isn’t isolated to just the African continent. There are hundreds of cases of mpox reported in the United States every year, including in Florida.
Here is what you should know about mpox and what the global health emergency means.
What is mpox (formerly known as monkeypox)?
Mpox is a highly infectious disease that has similar symptoms to smallpox, but it’s less severe, according to WHO. The disease is transmitted from animals to humans. It can also spread from human to human through contact with bodily fluids, lesions on the skin or internal mucosal surfaces like in the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets and contaminated objects.
What are the two types of mpox?
Mpox comes in two distinct types: Clade I, which was previously known as the Congo Basin clade, and Clade II, which was formerly known as the west African Clade.
Clade I — Clade I mpox is the more severe disease. It’s more contagious than its counterpart and causes more severe illness and death.
Clade II — Clade II is less severe. It fueled the 2022 global outbreak, according to the Miami Herald, which led to more than 32,000 infections in the U.S.
Are there mpox cases in the US?
Yes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded more than 1,000 mpox cases in the U.S. this year. So far, none of those cases are caused by the Clade I strain, which is what’s fueling the current outbreak in Africa.
