PAHO Urges Americas to Enhance Mpox Surveillance & Genomic Sequencing Efforts

PAHO Urges Americas to Enhance Mpox Surveillance & Genomic Sequencing Efforts

November 27, 2024 Catherine Williams - Chief Editor Health

Mpox Surveillance in the Americas

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is urging countries in the Americas to maintain surveillance for mpox. This follows the detection of a Clade I variant in the United States.

PAHO issued an epidemiological alert. Countries are advised to stay vigilant and focus on high-risk groups.

Between January 2022 and October 31, 2024, there were 115,101 confirmed mpox cases in 123 WHO Member States, resulting in 255 deaths. On August 14, 2024, the WHO Director-General declared an upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a public health emergency.

In the Americas, mpox cases peaked in August 2022. Since then, cases have steadily decreased in 2023 and 2024. All recent cases in the region, except for the imported Clade I case, belong to Clade II.

Mpox is caused by the mpox virus, which is part of the Orthopoxvirus genus. There are two clades: Clade I and Clade II. Symptoms include fever, headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash. The rash often appears on the face, hands, and feet but may also occur in the mouth and other areas. Symptoms generally last 2 to 4 weeks and resolve without treatment.

PAHO reminds Member States to enhance surveillance. This includes early detection, diagnosis, isolation, and contact tracing. Vaccination can help protect at-risk individuals, but PAHO states that mass vaccination is not necessary at this time.