“Stay Safe on Your Travels: Expanded Mpox Advisory and Essential Vaccination Tips!”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported today the ongoing human-to-human transmission of mpox clade 1 in Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

As of December 30, 2024, the CDC’s Level 2 Travel Health Advisory indicates that human-to-human transmission has taken place through multiple pathways during this mpox outbreak. Historically, clade I has been linked with a higher rate of severe illness or mortality among individuals with mpox, in comparison to clade II.

The mpox clade II outbreak initiated in the United States in late May 2022.

As of November 2024, there have been 2,455 confirmed clade II mpox incidents this year, surpassing the 1,407 confirmed cases reported in 2023.

Additionally, the CDC advises that mpox vaccination is recommended for specific individuals traveling to nations experiencing ongoing human-to-human transmission of clade I mpox.

In the U.S., the JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN, IMVANEX®, IMVAMUNE®) Smallpox and Mpox Vaccine has received approval from the U.S. FDA since September 2019. Other mpox vaccines and vaccine candidates are actively pursuing regulatory approvals in 2025.