A particularly dangerous form of Mpox is spreading in multiple world regions, including Europe and the Americas. Outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have prompted the CDC to advise physicians to look out for mpox-like symptoms. Healthcare providers should alert their state health department of any patients displaying mpox-like symptoms and who visited Democratic Republic of Congo or other countries where the recent outbreaks have occurred. Providers should also act quickly to send specimens from these patients to health authorities.
The type of Mpox currently circulating is more virulent than the kind that caused the 2022 epidemic, meaning that it is more capable of causing disease and death of infected individuals. “If it adapts better to human to human transmission, that presents a risk,” said Rosamund Lewis, the World Health Organization’s Mpox lead.