Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Since January , the DRC has reported the largest number of yearly suspected clade I mpox cases on record. Mpox is not known to be endemic in these countries. No cases of clade I mpox have been reported outside central and eastern Africa at this time. These can include: rash that may be located on the hands, feet, chest, face, mouth, or near the genitals; fever; chills; swollen lymph nodes; fatigue; myalgia muscle aches and backache ; headache; and respiratory symptoms like sore throat, nasal congestion, and cough.
The ongoing global mpox outbreak that began in is caused by clade II MPXV, and cases continue to be reported worldwide. More than 22, suspect cases, with more than 1, suspected deaths, have been reported in DRC since January 1, , a substantial increase from the median 3, suspect clade I mpox cases reported annually in DRC during β Clade I mpox cases have been reported from every DRC province, including areas where clade I mpox does not normally occur, such as the capital city Kinshasa.
Outbreaks of clade I MPXV associated with sexual contact among men who have sex with men and female sex workers and their contacts have been reported in some provinces. In other provinces, patients have acquired infection through contact with infected dead or live wild animals, household transmission, or patient care transmitted in the absence of appropriate personal protective equipment ; a high proportion of cases have been reported in children younger than 15 years of age.
Mpox vaccine, which is expected to be effective against both clades, is not generally available in DRC at this time. However, the country is actively working on a plan to vaccinate. In late July , clade I cases were confirmed in Rwanda and Uganda. Due to the limited number of travelers and lack of direct commercial flights from DRC or its neighboring countries to the United States, the risk of clade I mpox importation to the United States is considered to be very low.
CDC is helping communities monitor the presence of both clades of MPXV in wastewater samples , including from select airports. Data from samples can provide an early warning of mpox activity and spread in communities. This message was distributed to state and local health officers, state and local epidemiologists, state and local laboratory directors, public information officers, HAN coordinators, and clinician organizations.
