Category: Monkey Pox Vaccine

Last June, when COVID was still raging, Oregon health officials warned the public about the states first case of monkeypox, now known as mpox.

Cases continued to rise, peaking at 85 cases in August. By years end, health officials had tracked 270 cases, mostly among gay and bisexual men, though two Oregon children were also infected.

Health care providers administered thousands of doses of a vaccine and cases slowed, with only one case in December and four in January. But in recent months infections have been on the rise.

Jonathan Modie, a senior Oregon Health Authority spokesman, said the agency expected an increase following the festivals and parties in summer.

Cases began to increase then, and we have seen a consistent trickling of cases each week since mid-July, Modie said in an email.

We never declared the 2022 outbreak over because we were concerned about increases like the one we are seeing now, Dr. Tim Menza, the health authoritys senior mpox adviser, said in a news release. It gives us an opportunity to remind folks in the community that vaccination against mpox remains a valuable tool for reducing the risk of mpox infection.

The disease mainly spreads through skin contact, and symptoms can emerge within a few days or weeks. The most common are flu-like fever, chills, sweats, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and fatigue. Patients usually develop a rash that looks like pimples or blisters, perhaps first in the genital area and then on the hands, feet, chest, face or mouth. The scabs usually fall off within four weeks.

Most people recover at home without special treatment, though the blisters are often painful.

When the outbreak first emerged in the U.S., there was a shortage of the vaccine, Jynneos. But the health authority said the two-dose vaccine is now readily available and free. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Oregon health officials say its safe and effective: A study published in May by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that one dose of the vaccine prevented illness among 75% of people and that two doses protected 86%.

The health authority urges anyone at risk to get vaccinated. Modie said they include people who have been in intimate contact in the prior two weeks with someone whos infected or anyone in close contact with them along with laboratory workers who test for the virus and providers who treat infected patients.

Anyone who suspects they have mpox should contact their primary care provider first to find out whether they should be tested before going in for a visit. If you dont have a provider, call 211 for help.

Infections are not expected to go away, Modie said.

The virus is now endemic to the United States and will continue to circulate among unvaccinated persons and those whose vaccine-based immunity has started to decline over time, Modie said.

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Health authority warns of uptick in cases of mpox, formerly known as ... - Oregon Capital Chronicle

Nov 7

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A registered nurse with The Los Angeles Department of Public Health administers a vaccination at a clinic to immunize people against mpox and COVID in Aug. 2022 at The Village Mental Health Services in Los Angeles.(Christina House / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

After a summer of very low case rates, public health officials are warning that cases of mpox formerly known as monkeypox are rising around California, including in the Bay Area.

The initial outbreak of the virus hit the United States in the summer and fall of 2022, particularly affecting gay and bisexual men as well as trans and nonbinary people who have sex with men. After a mass vaccination effort led by organizers from the LGBTQ+ community and public health officials, the rate of mpox infections dropped to virtually zero in California but now, the average number of cases reported every week around the state has more than doubled from the summer months.

Keep reading for what we know about the recent rise in mpox cases in the Bay Area and across the state, recommendations from local public health officials, and where you can find an mpox vaccine in the Bay Area.

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Bay Area health officials had originally been concerned about the potential for a resurgence of mpox, a viral disease which spreads mainly from close physical contact, much earlier this year ahead of Pride festivities in June. Fears of a 2022-style outbreak did not materialize, and case counts stayed very low: From February to August 2023, the average weekly case number across California was approximately 1 to 7 cases, according to data from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

But on Oct. 31, CDPH Director Dr. Toms J. Aragn announced that the agency was now beginning to see an uptick in mpox cases across the state.

According to CDPH data, the number of mpox cases in California has significantly increased, up from this summers low to approximately 17 cases per week in the most recent three-week period (with available data being from Sept. 20 to Oct. 10).

CDPH also noted a rise in the number of California counties reporting mpox cases: 15 counties in that most recent three-week period, compared to 11 counties in the three weeks before that. Similar increases, said the agency, are also being seen nationwide in states including Washington,North CarolinaandHawaii.

What about the Bay Area? In a statement, the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) said that mpox cases in the city have risen too, from only 7 cases in August to 20 cases in September and at least 20 cases in October. SFDPH noted that some Bay Area counties have seen increased incidence rates in the last several months, too, as had other large cities around the United States, albeit at slightly different times compared to San Franciscos rise. Los Angeles said SFDPH saw its mpox increase in June, and mpox cases increased in Chicago in May. The latter was the outbreak that initially prompted Bay Area health officials to urge renewed vigilance against mpox ahead of Pride.

While the average number of weekly cases remains low compared with last year at this time, mpox continues to circulate in California, and recent data indicate that transmission levels are increasing, CDPH said. SFDPH also stresses that their count of October cases is still being completed, and this number may rise further.

CDPH noted two important things about this latest rise in mpox case numbers. The first: This latest increase appears to be fueled more by ongoing transmission within sexual networks than by people traveling to or from specific areas.

Importantly, most cases did not report travel or attending any specific event, CDPH said.

SFDPH has been more open to the notion that travel and event attendance could have played at least some role in this latest mpox rise, noting that during this outbreak, transmission is primarily related to intimate contact during oral or anal sex and that when people are connecting more frequently or with new sexual partners, there are more opportunities for mpox to spread.

Things like late summer travel, gatherings, and events may be associated with changes in sexual practices that can lead to increases in cases, SFDPH said.

The second highlight from CDPH was the role of the two-dose mpox vaccine and what it does (and doesnt) do.

CPDPH said that since early September, over 40% of people with a documented case of mpox had at least one dose of the vaccine. A lower proportion of people, 31%, had two doses. This, said CDPH, highlights that while mpox vaccine is effective at reducing infections and disease severity, infections after vaccination are possible and testing is warranted among vaccinated persons.

With this, we are reminding and encouraging all Californians to be aware of the signs and symptoms of mpox and to take preventive measures, including vaccination, to protect against severe illness, Aragn said.

SFDPH said that more than 50,000 doses of the mpox vaccine had been administered to date, but more than 40% of those who received their first dose are due for their second dose. If case rates are lower in people with two shots of the mpox vaccine than those with one shot, is there a reason people are not seeking out that second shot?

Joe Hawkins, CEO and co-founder of the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center, which offers mpox shots at its clinic, said that the huge number of people out there who received their first dose and who never came back for the second dose might have something to do with this summers low case rates which stayed low at least in part because of vaccinations.

I think that when people see that the news reports show that the cases have dropped dramatically, I just think and this is obviously me just assuming, that people dont feel that the risk is still out there, Hawkins said.

But people are still contracting mpox, and this will continue, he stressed. Because where theres smoke, theres fire, and the opportunity to spread mpox is still very high.

How mpox cases are tracked around the country:

Anyone can get mpox, but SFDPH said that the 2022 mpox outbreak predominantly affected communities of gay and bisexual men and men who have sex with men (MSM), as well as trans and nonbinary people who have sex with men.

This 2022 outbreak was unique compared to what had been known about mpox previously, Dr. Stephanie Cohen, director of HIV prevention for the Population Health Division at SFDPH, told KQED earlier this year. Thats because the virus really seemed to spread through sexual transmission and [was] associated with sexual activities, she said. Read more about how mpox spreads.

When you look at our national data [from 2022], almost 97% of cases in the U.S. were in people who are cis men, Cohen said. There were very, very few cases in cisgender women and also very few cases about 0.08% in children under the age of 16.

The mpox vaccine is a two-dose series, with roughly a month between doses, and public health officials are urging people to seek vaccination in light of this most recent rise in cases. So

If you got both doses of the mpox vaccine in 2022:

Youre all up to date and you dont need to get another mpox vaccine in 2023. Theres no recommendation at this time to get an mpox booster, SFDPHs Cohen said.

If you didnt get the mpox vaccine in 2022:

Go ahead and get your first dose as soon as possible, and get your second dose around 28 days later.

If you got only your first dose of the mpox vaccine in 2022, or more than 28 days ago:

Get your second dose as soon as possible, Cohen said. Getting both doses of the vaccine is very critical for protection, she said.

Reminder: The mpox vaccine is available for everyone.

In 2022, public health officials were initially only offering vaccines to people exposed to mpox or were categorized as being in a specific group more at risk from mpox. Those eligibility criteria are no longer in effect, and anyone who wants an mpox vaccine can get one in San Franciscoand in many other areas of California.

There is no shortage of mpox vaccine now, the SFDPH website said, and there is no need to prove eligibility for the vaccine.

Remember, getting your mpox vaccine wont 100% prevent you from getting mpox, as the CDPH data show. But being vaccinated could also help reduce your symptoms which can be painful if you do get infected, SFDPHs Cohen said.

Thats, of course, really a good outcome of the vaccine because we did see some pretty severe cases of mpox last summer in unvaccinated individuals, Cohen said. And we really dont want people to experience the distressing and painful symptoms that occurred at the same time.

Your mpox vaccine will be 100% free, and you dont need health insurance to receive one. As with the COVID vaccine, receiving an mpox vaccine wont make you a public charge or affect any future immigration processes you may enter into, and you wont be asked about your immigration status to receive the mpox vaccine.

You can schedule an appointment for an mpox vaccine, or choose a walk-in clinic.

If you live in or near San Francisco:

See a full list of mpox vaccine sites near you in San Francisco. SFDPHs Stephanie Cohen confirmed that you dont have to be a city resident to get vaccinated for mpox in San Francisco.

Mpox vaccination sites elsewhere in the Bay Area and California:

How does mpox spread?

Mpox is a disease that is caused when a person is infected with the mpox virus. As the name might suggest, the virus is related to the smallpox virus but is generally less severe and much less contagious than smallpox, according to CDPH.

Mpox spreads through prolonged skin-to-skin contact, said SFDPH, which notes that transmission during this latest 2023 rise in cases is primarily related to intimate contact during oral or anal sex. It can also spread through kissing and sharing bedding or clothing.

What are the symptoms of mpox?

The symptoms of mpox often start as flu-like symptoms, said SFPDH, but the virus also appears as a rash or sores or spots that can resemble pimples or blisters on the skin anywhere on the body, especially around your genitals. These spot often start as red, flat spots, and then become bumps, said SFDPH, before the bumps become filled with pus, and turn into scabs when they break. See the full list of mpox symptoms from SFDPH.

Its really important that if someone develops a rash that they think might be related to pox, even if its subtle, to come in and see their doctor and get checked out and get tested, urged Cohen. And that can help us prevent the spread of transmission in the community. See more on what to do if you suspect you have mpox.

Is mpox the same as monkeypox?

Yes. In 2022, the World Health Organization announced it would adopt the new, preferred term mpox as a synonym for monkeypox, in the light of the racist and stigmatizing language online, in other settings and in some communities that the agency said it had observed during the outbreak earlier that year.

You may have also seen the virus referred to as MPX, which was the name originally adopted by SFDPH.

KQEDs Carlos Cabrera-Lomel contributed to this story.

At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2023. Weve published clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID, how to cope with intense winter weather and how to exercise your right to protest safely.

So tell us: What do you need to know more about? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger, and help us decide what to cover here on our site, and on KQED Public Radio, too.

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Mpox Cases in California Are Rising. Where Can You Find a Vaccine? - KQED

On April 29, 2022, a British citizen developed a rash while traveling in Nigeria. After returning to the U.K., he decided to go to the hospital as his rash got worse, lymph nodes swelled and fever rose. The doctors confirmed it was monkeypox, or mpox, as it was renamed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Monkeypox is a disease caused by a virus that usually spreads from animals to humans but rarely between humans. However, in just one month last spring, thousands of cases were reported worldwide and the WHO declared it an international public health emergency. Recent research by virologists has shown that the strain causing the outbreak had been circulating among humans for several years. They also found that a specific human enzyme with antiviral activity may have accelerated the mutation rate of the virus, raising concerns among scientists about the future of mpox.

The mpox threat has diminished now. While new infections persist, the WHO lifted its alert in the summer. However, the pathogen remains present, and its origin remains unknown. Historically, outbreaks typically involve transmission from animals to humans, often rodents or apes, with limited human-to-human transmissions. The virus did not effectively adapt to the human environment. However, something seemed to have changed in 2022. Within a few months, thousands of people got infected and by the end of October 2023, the number had already exceeded 91,000. Surprisingly, most of them had not traveled to countries like Nigeria or the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where mpox is typically found. This suggests that there was ongoing person-to-person transmission, which is not usually associated with a zoonotic (transmitted from animals) disease.

A group of scientists, including some who initially studied SARS-Cov-2, have recently sequenced the genome of nearly 100 mpox virus samples, some of which date back to the 1960s. The purpose of this research was to identify the origin of the B.1 strain responsible for the 2022 outbreak. This strain is categorized under clade IIb and originated in West Africa. Thankfully, it is about 10 times less lethal than clade II viruses found in Central Africa.

Their research study published in Science suggests that the 2022 samples are not the first instances of the outbreak. They share up to 42 mutations in their DNA, which were traced back to a 2015 case that already displayed one of these changes. In the following year, Nigerian authorities reported some cases of mpox in humans. Initially, they were believed to be of zoonotic origin and unrelated to each other. However, the researchers concluded that there had been sustained human-to-human transmission since 2016.

Its not clear what led to the global spread of B.1. There doesnt seem to be anything particularly different about this lineage of the virus.

To support this conclusion, they pointed to the origin of the 42 changes in the viral DNA, focusing on nucleotides the fundamental elements of DNA (A, T, G and C). They found that nearly all of these mutations are associated with an enzyme called APOBEC3, which is present in most mammals. Rodents, known as virus reservoirs, only have one copy of this enzyme in the spleen and bone marrow, not in other tissues. In humans, the enzyme is part of the immune system and helps remove parts of the viruss DNA that hinder replication. These genetic modifications emerged after 2017, indicating that they did not occur prior to the virus transmission from animals to humans.

The lead author of the research study, virologist ine OToole from the University of Edinburgh (U.K.), said, Since it began affecting humans in 2016, the changes made to the APOBEC3 gene are visible as scars on the virus genome. When viruses replicate, they expose their DNA, which allows this enzyme to replace certain letters with others. This interference affects the replicative machinery in most cases, but sometimes the pathogen still manages to replicate, now marked with APOBEC3. However, OToole doesnt have an answer for why the outbreak occurred in May 2022 after circulating for at least six years. Its not clear what led to the global spread of B.1. There doesnt seem to be anything particularly different about this lineage of the virus. It probably spread widely because it entered specific population networks.

Antonio Alcam, a virologist with Spains Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center (CMB/CSIC), underscores the importance of knowing when it began to circulate: It was previously considered to be of recent origin. However, the same strain of the virus responsible for the 2022 outbreak has been detected in humans since 2016. Alcam (who did not participate in this study) says these latest findings are very significant. It was believed that mpox did not infect humans, but we now know otherwise, which serves as a warning that mpox is indeed adapting to humans.

The longer the virus circulates among people, the greater the likelihood that it will adapt to the human body.

One possible factor could be that APOBEC3 has accelerated mpoxs mutation rate. Compared to previous orthopoxviruses like human smallpox, which had a very slow rate of change, mpox displayed 42 DNA changes in two to three years. This is a significantly faster rate 28 times faster than previous mpox lineages. The main point is to determine whether these mutations increase transmissibility among humans, said Ral Rivas, a professor of microbiology and genetics at the University of Salamanca (Spain). Rivas also stresses the importance of dating the first cases with these mutations. The longer the virus circulates among people, the greater the likelihood that it will adapt to the human body.

The authors of the study clarified that although the antiviral enzyme is responsible for the mutations in the B.1 lineage, it does not necessarily imply that APOBEC3 is boosting the viruss ability to replicate and transmit among humans. Fernando Gonzlez, a professor at the University of Valencia (Spain) who studies phylogenomics (reconstructing the evolutionary histories of organisms), notes, APOBEC3 does not directly cause mutations, but it is mutagenic. Some of these mutations have increased the viruss transmissibility. The next urgent step is to link the antiviral enzyme with this increased capacity for contagion.

The study concludes that if a connection between APOBEC3 and the long-term presence of mpox in humans is discovered, it would represent a significant shift in our understanding of the virus. Oriol Mitj, from the Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital in Barcelona, participated in the discovery of a necrotizing form of mpox in people with advanced HIV. We can expect new zoonotic outbreaks of mpox in the future. However, if transmission between humans persists, we can consider it a human virus. This represents a paradigm shift, much like we saw with HIV [which was initially zoonotic], said Mitj.

The recent findings have heightened concern about the spread of mpox. The majority of the over 91,000 individuals infected so far are under the age of 50, implying that they have not received the smallpox vaccine (smallpox was eradicated in 1980). There is a potential risk that mpox could fill the void left by its viral relative and spread within an unimmunized population. The situation could become even more dire if the B.1 lineage successfully transmits between humans, as clade I viruses are fatal in 10% of the cases.

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Monkeypox circulated among humans for years before the 2022 outbreak - EL PAS USA

The following is a news release from Idaho Division of Public Health.

Idaho Division of Public Health and Central District Health are announcing the first two reported people diagnosed with mpox in Idaho since last year. Investigation is ongoing, but both persons reported traveling outside the state, which may be related to these diagnoses. Both people diagnosed with mpox are Ada County residents. There is currently no evidence of ongoing transmission of mpox in Idaho.

Mpox, which was previously called monkeypox, is caused by a virus that can spread through prolonged direct contact with someone with mpox or, very rarely, touching things like bedding or towels contaminated with the virus. Infection usually causes a rash that can look like pimples at first and then like blisters. These may be all over the body or just in certain places, such as the face, hands, or feet, as well as on or inside the mouth, genitals, or anus.

Some people can also have flu-like symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose, cough, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, headache, and tiredness. Someone with mpox might have all or only a few symptoms. A person with mpox can spread it to others from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed.

People who have been exposed to someone with mpox should watch for symptoms for 21 days afterward and get vaccinated against mpox as soon as possible (preferably within four days but up to 14 days after exposure) if they are not already vaccinated.

Mpox vaccine (JYNNEOS) can help prevent mpox and may help make symptoms less severe. People should get two doses four weeks apart for the best protection against mpox. People who should not get JYNNEOS are those who have had a severe allergic reaction (such as anaphylaxis) after getting the first dose. During the 2022 mpox outbreak, anaphylactic reactions were reported in about three per million doses administered.

Vaccine may be given in the skin of the forearm, upper back, or shoulder, or under the skin on the back of the arm. Records indicate about one in three Idahoans who had the first dose of JYNNEOS didnt receive a second dose.

Since the first infection in the U.S., we have gained more knowledge and tools we can use to reduce the impact of this virus, said Central District Health Staff Epidemiologist Sarah Wright. One of these is the mpox vaccine, a preventive tool that has been shown to make symptoms milder in people that get mpox. If you are interested in this vaccine, talk to your healthcare provider or a provider at Central District Health.

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Mpox, previously called Monkeypox, returns to Idaho with two ... - East Idaho News

Oklahoma Health Department confirms mpox is present in the state

The state's health department confirmed there are currently five active cases across the state.

Updated: 5:15 PM CDT Oct 31, 2023

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is still present in Oklahoma.The state's health department confirmed there are currently five active cases across the state. The feds said the state has seen a total of 77 cases since the original outbreak in 2022.Doctors said mpox is only spread through skin-to-skin contact, usually during sex. Because of that, basic precautions can go a long way.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here."A naturally occurring disease of animals that has jumped into humans, so technically, we call this a zoonosis," said Dr. Douglas Drevets, chief of infectious disease at OU Health.Drevets said mpox is related to smallpox but far less deadly. Symptoms consist of painful, raised bumps to pox on infected areas of the skin, as well as flu-like symptoms."Its a very different disease than you think of in smallpox," Drevets said.In 2022, the U.S. saw an outbreak, but figures have since gone down dramatically. Oklahoma currently reports five active cases.>> Download the KOCO 5 App"And thats in part because people have been getting vaccinated for it. There is a vaccine. The smallpox vaccine provides pretty good but not perfect immunity, and then people are aware of it, so you can take precautions to protect yourself," Drevets said.With a lot of the recent cases being spread through sex, safe sex is another way to prevent infection."It is person-to-person safe sex. Use precautions. If somebody has rashes or sores, thats probably something you ought to not get involved with," Drevets said.The vaccine is available for free and requires two doses for maximum protection.Top HeadlinesEl Reno police investigate after 20-year-old killed at Halloween party, suspect arrestedFriends stars react to unfathomable loss of Matthew PerryA teacher and ultra-marathoner runs 450 miles to beat international field, set world recordOklahoma City restaurant owner wanted after allegedly sexually abusing teenage staffOklahoma lawmakers look at what led up to decision to close Michelin plant

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is still present in Oklahoma.

The state's health department confirmed there are currently five active cases across the state. The feds said the state has seen a total of 77 cases since the original outbreak in 2022.

Doctors said mpox is only spread through skin-to-skin contact, usually during sex. Because of that, basic precautions can go a long way.

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.

"A naturally occurring disease of animals that has jumped into humans, so technically, we call this a zoonosis," said Dr. Douglas Drevets, chief of infectious disease at OU Health.

Drevets said mpox is related to smallpox but far less deadly. Symptoms consist of painful, raised bumps to pox on infected areas of the skin, as well as flu-like symptoms.

"Its a very different disease than you think of in smallpox," Drevets said.

In 2022, the U.S. saw an outbreak, but figures have since gone down dramatically. Oklahoma currently reports five active cases.

>> Download the KOCO 5 App

"And thats in part because people have been getting vaccinated for it. There is a vaccine. The smallpox vaccine provides pretty good but not perfect immunity, and then people are aware of it, so you can take precautions to protect yourself," Drevets said.

With a lot of the recent cases being spread through sex, safe sex is another way to prevent infection.

"It is person-to-person safe sex. Use precautions. If somebody has rashes or sores, thats probably something you ought to not get involved with," Drevets said.

The vaccine is available for free and requires two doses for maximum protection.

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Oklahoma Health Department confirms mpox is present in the state - KOCO Oklahoma City

When the global outbreak of mpox hit stateside in May 2022, the response from local and statewide health departments and other concerned agencies was swift.

First discovered in 1958 in Denmark, the mpox (formerly monkeypox) virus has steadily emerged in central, east and west Africa over the last 60 years. However, the 2022 outbreak of mpox appeared suddenly and spread rapidly throughout Europe and the United States; by August, cases had surfaced in all 50 states. Outside of Africa, the virus has primarily affected men who have sex with men, making this a public health crisis for the gay and bisexual community. However, mpox, like any virus, does not discriminate and this highly transmissible disease is a risk for anyone coming into contact with an infected person.

In October of that year, Binghamton Universitys Q Center partnered with the Broome County Health Department (BCHD) and the Southern Tier Aids Program (STAP) for an on-campus clinic to provide mpox vaccinations and safe sex and AIDS prevention education. STAP is the only non-profit organization serving the LGBTQ+ community in Broome County, so collaborations with the Q Center were mutually advantageous.

I had started reaching out to STAP and its Identity Youth Center staff in fall 2022 because we serve similar communities, said Nick Martin, assistant director at the Q Center. We have invited STAP several times to campus for tabling events. Several STAP staff members have attended Q Center events, including the Pride Flag Raising Ceremony in June and the Rainbow Fest during Fall Welcome Week. There is enormous value with these kinds of collaborations.

Established in 1984, STAP, originally an AIDS service organization, has evolved over the past few decades. Today, STAP provides an array of essential services, including a food pantry, housing assistance, care coordination, LGBTQ+ youth support, reentry services for individuals leaving prison or jail, Hepatitis C services, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, medical care and substance use treatment. Access to these services is not contingent on being HIV-positive.

Diagnosis and treatment for HIV/AIDS have radically changed since the 1980s due to the availability of antiretroviral therapy and the emergence of effective preventative measures such as pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP, which boasts a 99% efficacy rate in preventing HIV transmission. However, other sexually transmitted infections are on the rise.

Although there is some dispute about labeling mpox as an STI, sexual contact is currently the predominant mode of transmission in reported cases.

James Onyeike is the coordinator for STAPs Communities of Color initiative, conducting specialized testing and helping to empower communities at greater risk of HIV and STIs.

Thanks to advancements in modern medicine, our clients living with HIV/AIDS now enjoy long, healthy lives, said Onyeike. But to fully eradicate AIDS, prevention is more vital than ever and our proactive approach to testing ensures that individuals receive the care they need.

Haythi Ei 22, MPH 23, is a graduate of the Master of Public Health Program (MPH) at Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences and is passionate about promoting equity in healthcare. Ei was the mpox program manager for STAP from June to September 2023 through a New York State Department of Health grant. During that time, Ei organized vaccine clinics in partnership with local health departments and non-profit organizations and provided education and outreach to underserved populations, including rural, LGBTQ+ and communities of color.

I came across this job through the Decker student listserv, Ei said. I was finishing up my MPH and needed a job. Despite its short duration, I knew this would be a great stepping stone into the public health field.

The Q Center will team up with STAP and Decker Student Health Services for a second vaccination* and testing clinic in the Q Center Lounge from noon to 3:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 3. While the clinic will accept walk-ins for testing, appointments are highly encouraged.

A newly implemented online appointment system will make scheduling more accessible, allowing interested students to select a time that works for them. Contact STAP or the Q Center for a link to the online booking system.

Were working hard to ensure everyone has easy access and an overall good experience with our services, Onyeike said. Even if you cannot get an appointment that day, please come in and we will help you set up an appointment to get tested at our main location.

*Please note this is the second vaccination in the recommended series.

This past summer, Ei reached out to Martin to discuss a schedule of fall clinics as her grant-funded position was coming to a close. Broome County had available vaccines, so Ei coordinated with BCHD staff and Richard E. Moose, medical director at Decker Student Health Services, to discuss details and logistics. Decker Student Health Services came on board to help administer vaccinations.

We were interested in partnering with the Q Center to help provide vaccines to students, said Moose. We arranged to receive the vaccines from the county health department, and we provided registered nurses to give the vaccines.

For the fall 2023 clinics, Ei and Martin decided to expand offerings to include free STI/HIV testing for any campus community member, enlisting Onyeike to coordinate those services.

More than 100 students showed up to the Oct. 27 clinic. Student health services administered all 50 doses of the vaccine on hand, and STAPs prevention team conducted nine tests in total. However, demand far exceeded the supply, with more than 25 people on the testing waiting list.

This kind of turnout highlights the need for free testing in the University community, Ei said. Unfortunately, we had to turn away a lot of students, so I think we felt even more determined to provide additional testing and other resources and services to the University in the future.

In addition to clinics like this, the Q Center supports many other collaborative health initiatives to bring needed resources to the LGBTQ+ and other communities, specifically mental health services, through the University Counseling Center. Martin is also in consultation with the campus CARE (Consultation, Advocacy, Referral and Education) Team and Violence, Abuse, Rape Crisis Center (VARCC) to highlight those services to the students the center serves. The Q Center also has a peer mentorship program with a paid student staff to facilitate inclusion, self-expression and a sense of belonging.

I spoke with many of the students at the last clinic who had never been to the Q Center, Martin said, and a handful who did not identify within the LGBTQ+ community. For me, this illustrates just how important campus collaborations are and how they can improve the well-being and feelings of inclusivity and belonging for everyone across the entire campus community.

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Q Center collaborates on free health services | Binghamton News - Binghamton

By Sabrina Janesick

An interdisciplinary team of Virginia Commonwealth University scientists and mathematicians has been awarded more than $660,000 by the National Science Foundation to study vaccine coverage and identify drivers of vaccine uptake in the United States.

By providing data on vaccine inequities and acceptance, particularly among minority and rural populations, the researchers hope to contribute to the global effort to predict and mitigate the impacts of current and future pandemics. The MAVEN project Multidisciplinary Analysis of Vaccination Games for Equity will gather data on multiple vaccines, including influenza, human papillomavirus, COVID-19 and monkeypox, in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of vaccine uptake.

The MAVEN project is led by Dewey Taylor, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at VCUs College of Humanities and Sciences. The team includes faculty from varied departments: Sunny Jung Kim, Ph.D., an assistant professor of health behavior and policy at VCUs School of Population Health; Gabriela Len-Prez, Ph.D., an assistant professor of sociology; Oyita Udiani, Ph.D., an assistant professor of math; Jan Rychtar, Ph.D., a professor of math; Oleg Korenok, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Economics at VCUs School of Business, and Daniel Stephenson, Ph.D., an assistant professor of economics.

Taylor is an expert in mathematical modeling and conducts research on neglected tropical diseases. Her work has primarily focused on understanding how diseases affect communities with extremely limited resources that have been traditionally understudied and overlooked in public health research.

Through this project, we aim to better understand the structural, social and individual factors that influencevaccine uptake. This research will also examine how heterogeneityin our communities affect perceptions and trends around vaccination, as well as how individual behaviors related to vaccines impact disease dynamics, said Taylor. This is a large multidisciplinary project and I am excited to work with such a diverse team of researchers.

Kim, who has a background in disease prevention and vaccine uptake research, led astudyinvestigating misinformation on social media about the HPV vaccine and health communication strategies to counter the misinformation. She said understanding why people do or dont take vaccines can help policymakers and health professionals communicate about vaccines with the public.

The data can inform us on multilevel individual and structural factors that explain vaccine uptake and vaccine refusal across heterogeneous populations, and why some people have distrust for vaccines, she said.

With its interdisciplinary team of researchers, the MAVEN project will combine expertise from mathematical epidemiology and social and behavioral sciences, using multiple data sources to develop a model to estimate peoples vaccine preferences. Once the model is created, researchers will be able to conduct both retrospective and prospective calculations about vaccine acceptance and hesitance.

We will utilize multiple behavioral prediction models and game theory to understand the elements involved in decision-making, Kim said.

The outcomes of the MAVEN project will serve a twofold purpose: helping public health organizations to promote vaccines and serving as a basis for future research, particularly for developing targeted interventions to increase vaccine acceptance and build trust among vulnerable populations.

I am very excited to have this opportunity, Kim said, not only in terms of research but also the implications of the findings for policy and outreach efforts for vaccine distribution as well as patient education opportunities all of which can help reduce existing racial and ethnic disparities in vaccination uptake rates.

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2023 has been a year of changing tides for Blue Water Biotech, and the last few months appear to be producing some particularly rough seas. With a freshly minted CEO, the biotech is redefining its mission to focus solely on oncology, a move that includes dropping six FDA-approved drugs and its wide-ranging vaccine portfolio.

Blue Water Biotechwhichchangedits name from Blue Water Vaccines this May after buying FDA-approved benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) drug Entadfi from Veruis deprioritizing all vaccine work, according to an Oct. 30 letter to shareholders from CEO Neil Campbell.

Vaccines were once the centerfold of the company, with programs in at least eight separate indications such as the flu, malaria and monkeypox. None of the programs had made it to the clinic yet, according to the companys online pipeline.

These vaccine programs were targeting a wide number of diseases and conditions that would have consumed an enormous amount of company resources, Campbell wrote, adding that evolving market dynamics and post-pandemic challenges prompted the company to conduct the strategic assessment that ultimately has resulted in the pipeline upheaval.

The biotech is also abandoning six FDA-approved assets acquired from an $8.5 million deal made with WraSer and Xspire Pharma earlier this year. The drugswhich CEO Campbell says wont meet requirements for creating greater shareholder value in 2024include thrombin receptor antagonist Zontivity; antibiotics Otovel and Cetraxal and authorized generics distributed by WraSer; calcium channel blocker Conjupri; and pain medications Trezix and Nalfon.

Blue Water has also discontinued its commercial operations related to the six drugs due to misalignment with the biotechs evolving objective in the cancer field.

Part of the strategic assessment also included overhauling the companys management team, with CEO Campbell joining earlier this month from Marizyme. Chief Financial Officer Jon Garfield also exited the company, with Bruce Harmon taking on the CFO title.

The newest changes leave Campbell with a portfolio of oneEntadfi, which won approval from the FDA in December 2021 for men with BPH. While the condition is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate, Campbell wrote that the expected 2024 market launch will make it the inaugural therapeutic drug in our expanding portfolio of oncology therapeutics.

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Harrisburg, PA - The Shapiro Administration announced the recipients of the 2023 Governors Awards for Excellence this week, which includes a Department of Health cross-bureau taskforce which led the response to the 2022 mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) outbreak.

The members of the taskforce recognized with the awards are Bureau of Communicable Diseases Director Jill Garland; Public Health Program Directors Beth Butler, Thomas McCleaf, and Mari Jane Salem-Noll; Community Health Nurse Supervisor Mia Russo; Bureau of Emergency Preparedness and Response Director Andrew Pickett; Bureau of Epidemiology Assistant Director Lisa McHugh; Epidemiologist Manager Atmaram Nambiar; Bureau of Community Health Systems Nursing Director Jennifer Shirk; and Microbiologist Supervisor Melinda Johnston.

I am proud of the way this team strategically worked together to overcome logistical challenges and successfully distribute mpox tests, treatment, and vaccines to the populations most in need, said Dr. Debra Bogen, Acting Secretary of Health. Thanks to this team working together across the Department, we were able to prevent mpox cases and deaths while supporting health equity in Pennsylvania.

The mpox team advocated for equitable vaccine distribution across the Commonwealth, working with federal partners and local health departments to ensure vaccine availability where the need was greatest. The team overcame a variety of challenges associated with a limited vaccine supply, developing a strategic plan to ensure that the vaccine and test kits were delivered to locations where individuals most impacted by the outbreak already receive services. Other jurisdictions across the country would later emulate the model used by Pennsylvania.

While the mpox outbreak spread throughout the country, this teams efforts kept Pennsylvania case counts low, with no deaths occurring in the Commonwealth.

The Governors Awards for Excellence recognize Commonwealth employees for exemplary job performance or service that reflects initiative, leadership, innovation and/or increased efficiency. A total of 54 employees from eight agencies received awards for accomplishments in 2022.

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark O'Neill - ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov

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Sexual activity appears to be the most common route of mpox (formerly monkeypox) transmission even among people who do not report sex between men, but some cases of household transmission were reported in a recent US study. A second report found that the infection is uncommon among children outside of Africa.

Asaidsmap previously reported, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) detected the first cases in a new global mpox outbreak in May 2022.As of 30 September 2023, UKHSA has identified 3805 confirmed and probable cases in the UK. Worldwide, there have been more than 91,000 cases, resulting in 157 deaths,according to the World Health Organisation. Mpox case numbers have fallen dramatically since last years peak, though sporadic small clusters are still being reported. Experts attribute the decline to a combination of behaviour change, natural immunity after infection and vaccination.

The global mpox outbreak has largely affected gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, differing from the historical pattern in central and western Africa. In various studies in the UK, Europe and the US, upwards of 90% of cases have been among cisgender men, most of whom reported sex with other men, often including sex with multiple partners or in group sex settings.

A person whose gender identity and expression matches the biological sex they were assigned when they were born. A cisgender person is not transgender.

A rash is an area of irritated or swollen skin, affecting its colour, appearance, or texture. It may be localised in one part of the body or affect all the skin. Rashes are usually caused by inflammation of the skin, which can have many causes, including an allergic reaction to a medicine.

By comparing the genetic sequence of the virus in different individuals, scientists can identify viruses that are closely related. A transmission cluster is a group of people who have similar strains of the virus, which suggests (but does not prove) HIV transmission between those individuals.

Small scrapes, sores or tears in tissue. Lesions in the vagina or rectum can be cellular entry points for HIV.

However, some mpox cases have occurred among women and heterosexual men, and over the course of the outbreak, a growing proportion of case reports lacked information about sexual orientation, sexual activity and other exposure risk factors. A study published last year characterised mpox cases among cisgender and transgender women and non-binary individuals in 15 countries.

While some older public health information based on historical data from Africa cautioned that mpox virus could spread via surfaces and potentially even through the air, this appears to be rare in the context of the global outbreak.

As described recently in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, researchers with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and various city and state health departments aimed to characterise mpox cases among adults with no reported male-to-male sexual contact. Approximately 30% of US cases met this criteria or had missing exposure data.

During November and December 2022, the researchers identified 122 people with mpox, age 18 or older, from six jurisdictions (New York City and San Diego and the states of California, Georgia, Louisiana and Pennsylvania) who did not report male-to-male sex during the three weeks prior to symptom onset or were missing exposure data. These jurisdictions accounted for 13% of all mpox cases reported to the CDC during this period. These cases were reviewed in more depth and a subset of individuals were contacted for interviews.

After further review, 52 people were identified who did not report male-to-male sexual contact or for whom such contact could not be ruled out. The median age of this subgroup was 36 years. Nearly two thirds (62%) were cisgender men, 29% were cisgender women and 6% were transgender women. Half were Black, 33% were Hispanic and 10% were White. Among the 45 people with a known sexual orientation, 67% were heterosexual, 16% were gay or lesbian and 13% were bisexual. Of the 32 people whose status was known, 25% were living with HIV. Of the 30 individuals with mpox vaccination data, three had received at least one dose of the MVA-BN vaccine ( sold asImvanexin Europe andJynneosin the US).

Within this group of 52 people, 14 (27%) had a known exposure to a person with confirmed or suspected mpox, including eight who reported sexual activity or other close intimate contact and six who reported household contact.

There was one identified household cluster in which the index patient, a cisgender man, was apparently exposed to mpox after being held in jail with a person who had characteristic mpox lesions. This individual, who developed symptoms the day after his release, had sex with his female partner, who developed symptoms a week later. The couple shared their home with another woman and a preschool child, both of whom also contracted mpox.

Other reported exposures in this group included shared transportation (three cases), close face-to-face contact (two cases), caregiving (two cases), occupational exposure (one case) and attendance at a large social gathering where a person with mpox was present (one case). One caregiver reported cleaning her sonshome while he was in hospitalized with mpox. She had no direct contact with her son and reported she wore gloves while cleaning, but she developed mpox lesions on her hand.

Among the 38 people with no known exposure to a person with mpox, self-reported activities preceding symptom onset included sexual activity (17 people, or 45%), close face-to-face contact (14 people, or 37%), attending large social gatherings or venues including gyms bars and restaurants (11 people, or 29%) and being in occupational settings involving close skin-to-skin contact (10 people, or 26%). However, six of the 17 people who reported sexual activity only had sex with a partner who did not have mpox symptoms, so other routes of infection are possible.

Overall, people without male-to-male sexual contact had symptoms similar to those reported by men who have sex with men. Almost all of the 49 people with available symptom data reported a rash, most commonly in the genital or anal area (48%).

These findings suggest that sexual activity remains an important route of mpox exposure among patients who do not report male-to-male sexual contact, the study authors concluded. However, other transmission modes, including household transmission, were reported.

Messaging for uninfected persons sharing or visiting a living space where a person with mpox resides should consider emphasizing maintenance of adequate hand hygiene; adhering to home cleaning and disinfection guidelines; and avoiding touching potentially contaminated surfaces or sharing personal items including bedding, clothing, towels or utensils, they advised.

They also recommended vaccination for people exposed to the mpox virus and those at increased risk for exposure. The MVA-BN vaccine can be given as post-exposure prophylaxis for up to two weeks after exposure, though it is most effective within the first few days.

In a second report, published in CDCs Emerging Infectious Diseases, World Health Organization epidemiologist Dr Ana Hoxha and colleagues analysed global surveillance data on mpox cases among children and adolescents, who accounted for 1.3% of cases in the global outbreak. This is in sharp contrast to the situation prior to this outbreak, when upwards of half of all mpox cases were among children, mostly in Africa.

Between January 2022 and May 2023, a total of1,118 mpox cases were identified among people under 18 years of age. Most (62%) occurred in the Americas, followed by Africa(30%) and Europe (8%). Less than 1% of cases occurred in the eastern Mediterranean and western Pacific regions, and none were reported in south-east Asia.

Of the 1,102 paediatric cases with available data, about 60% were among boys and 40% among girls, though males made up a greater proportion of cases outside of Africa. Among the 166 teens with a self-reported sexual orientation, 22% were young gay or bisexual men. Eleven paediatric mpox patients were living with HIV (including one with advanced immune suppression) and six had compromised immunity due to other causes.

Only a minority of cases had available data on exposure risk. Sixty-seven of these (23%) had contact with a known mpox patient. Children under 12 mostly contracted mpox through nonsexual person-to-person contact or contact with contaminated surfaces. Thirty-four teenagers with available data contracted mpox via sexual transmission. Although not specified in this report, researchers previously described a cluster of nine mpox cases among teens in Spain connected to a tattoo and piercing parlour.

The percentage of patients <18 years of age was lower than had been feared early in the outbreak, amid concerns that the epidemic could shift from primarily affecting [men who have sex with men] to a more generalised epidemic spread, including among school-age children, the study authors wrote.

Among teenagers who reported being infected through sexual contact, 44% had a genital rash. Genital rash may be indicative of the transmission route of mpox but can also be present when transmission has not occurred through sexual contact, the researchers noted. Among those with available data, 47 paediatric mpox patients (14%) were hospitalised, but only one required intensive care and none died. Prior to this outbreak, a greater proportion of cases among children in Africa were severe.

"The lower observed severity in children and adolescents in this outbreak than for previous outbreaks may be caused by a combination of increased ascertainment of mild cases, differing access to healthcare between settings, differing health status of the host populations and lower virulence of clade IIb," the mpox strain responsible for most cases in the global outbreak outside of Africa, the study authors suggested.

While mpox remains uncommon among children and adolescents outside of Africa, the researchers advised that, Clinicians should consider mpox as a possible diagnosis in these age groups when they have indicative symptoms, even with no known epidemiologic link to another case.

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