7.5.6: Monkeypox (Mpox)
Mpox or monkeypox is caused by a virus related to smallpox, and was named so because it was first discovered in small primates. Mpox can be transmitted via direct contact with an infected person (including sexual contact), as well as indirect contact by fomite (surfaces or objects touched by the infected person). There are two types of Mpox (called “clades”), one has a much lower case-fatality rate than the other (10% vs. <1%). In 2022 there was an outbreak of the latter strain of Mpox that traveled around the world and caused over 94,000 cases, many of which had not previously reported Mpox. Fortunately, a vaccine is available that has a 70% vaccine effectiveness measure, which means that vaccinated cases are 70% lower than unvaccinated cases (Mpox, 2024).