Impact of New Mpox Threat on the U.S.
Infectious disease experts express cautious optimism that the new subtype of mpox spreading across Africa may not cause severe health impacts in the U.S. due to various factors such as immunity from vaccination, better healthcare access, and living standards. The World Health Organization has declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern due to a large outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the first case outside Africa reported in Sweden. The U.S. has not reported any cases of this new subtype, known as clade I, which is considered more transmissible and severe than clade II.
Key Points
- World Health Organization declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern.
- First clade I case outside Africa reported in Sweden.
- U.S. has not reported any clade I cases to date.
Pros
- Cautious optimism that the new subtype of mpox may not spread widely in the U.S.
- Various factors such as immunity from vaccination and better healthcare access could mitigate the risk.
- U.S. has not reported any cases of clade I mpox so far.
Cons
- Clade I of mpox is considered more transmissible and severe than clade II.
- Risk of potential outbreak in the U.S. still exists.