The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Update meant to inform clinicians and public health agencies about the potential for new clusters or outbreaks of mpox cases and to provide resources on clinical evaluation, treatment, vaccination, and testing.
Mpox virus can be spread person-to-person through infected body fluids (including saliva and lesion fluid), items that have been in contact with infected fluids or lesion crusts, and respiratory droplets. The incubation period is usually 7−14 days but can range from 5−21 days. People with mpox are infectious from the start of symptoms (before the rash forms) until the lesions heal and new skin forms underneath scabs and the scabs have all fallen off.
Warmer weather and individuals gathering for events could lead to a resurgence of mpox. The CDC and local partners are investigating a cluster of mpox cases in the Chicago area with 12 confirmed and one probable case.
Read the full Health Update here.
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