The U.S. is preparing for a more severe version of mpox, known as clade 1, which has caused over 600 deaths in Africa. The government is expanding surveillance efforts, making testing more widely available, and ensuring vaccines are accessible for high-risk individuals.
Key Points
Over 24,800 reported cases of clade 1 so far this year
CDC reports recent death rates of 1% to 3.3%
Jynneos mpox vaccine effective against both clade 1 and clade 2
Vaccine recommendation remains limited to high-risk individuals
Pros
Government expanding surveillance efforts
Testing becoming more widely available
Vaccines effective against both clade 1 and clade 2
Cons
No approved treatments for mpox currently
TPOXX antiviral treatment found not effective against clade 1