2022–2023 mpox outbreak in North America
The outbreak reached North America on 18 May 2022, when the United States reported their first case of mpox.
Symptoms include a rash that forms blisters and then crusts over, fever, and swollen lymph nodes.
[5] Diagnosis can be confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing a lesion for the virus's DNA.
The resident returned to the United Kingdom on May 4, creating the country's index case of the outbreak.
Some monitors saw community transmission taking place in the London area as of mid-May,[12] but it has been suggested that cases were already spreading in Europe in the previous months.
It is believed to be transmitted by close contact with sick people, with extra caution for those individuals with lesions on their skin or genitals, along with their bedding and clothing.
[14] In addition to more common symptoms, such as fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes or lesions, some patients have also experienced proctitis, an inflammation of the rectum lining.
CDC has also warned clinicians to not rule out mpox in patients with sexually transmitted infections since there have been reports of co-infections with syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and herpes.
[15] An index case was imported into the United States on 18 May 2022, by a man who had recently travelled to Canada.
It was in a male of unknown age who had most likely contracted the disease from a trip to London, UK, which had already been affected by the mpox outbreak.
It was in an adult of unknown exact age and gender who most likely contracted the disease from a trip to a country which had been affected by the mpox outbreak.
[28] On 22 July, Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory, although technically part of North America, registered its first mpox case.
[30] On 1 August, Collectivity of Saint Martin, part of Overseas France, confirmed its first case of mpox.
It was in patients of unknown genders and ages who likely contracted the disease via skin-to-skin contact picked up abroad.
[33] On 12 August, Honduras reported its first case of mpox in an adult male under 50 years of age.
[36] The man fell into cardiac arrest, likely on the same day he was diagnosed, which he recovered from, but remained in critical condition at the time.
[38] On 20 May, the WHO convened an emergency meeting of independent advisers to discuss the outbreak and assess the threat level.
[39] Its European chief, Hans Kluge, expressed concern that infections could accelerate in Europe as people gather for parties and festivals over the summer.
[41] Another meeting convened on 23 June determined that the outbreak does not constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern for the time being.
