Harvard Ever heard of mpox? Wondering why it’s back in the news?
Many of us first learned about mpox (formerly called monkeypox) in 2022, when the largest known outbreak spread to nearly 100,000 people in more than 100 countries. While mpox often circulates in central and western Africa, the 2022 outbreak quickly spread from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to places it had never been detected before. In the US alone, more than 32,000 infections and 58 deaths were reported before the disease was contained.
Now, a new outbreak of mpox has put it back in the news. What should you know — and do — about this latest international health emergency? What are your risks? Are vaccines available? If you get mpox, how can you avoid spreading it?