Portugal's Mpox Outbreak Reignites

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control recently published a Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) for week #27, which included a mpox outbreak update.

The weekly number of mpox cases reported in the EU/EEA peaked in July 2022, and since then, a steadily declining trend has been observed.

Mpox is a viral disease, and the outbreak that began in May 2022 was driven by human-to-human transmission via close contact with infected individuals. 

As of July 8, 2023, this CDTR confirmed since the last monthly update, 13 cases of mpox have been reported by Portugal (12) and Norway (1).

Portugal reported in the latest epidemiological update (June 30, 2023) that following three months with no new mpox cases, information is available for seven of the 12 patients; all were male, five (71%) were 20–29 years old, five presented with exanthema, and four are HIV-positive.

Based on evidence from the current outbreak and the declining number of new infections in the WHO European Region, the CDTR says the overall risk of mpox infection is moderate for men with sex with men and low for the broader population in the EU/EEA.

As of July 9, 2023, the leading mpox vaccine is JYNNEOS®.

As of June 27, 2023, 1,237,235 JYNNEOS doses (1st and 2nd) had been administered in 57 U.S. Jurisdictions. The U.S. CDC's vaccine advisory committee recently presented no recommendation for a third Jynneos dose.

Other sexually transmitted disease vaccine news is posted at Precision Vaccinations.