The spreading mpox outbreak: what employers should know (by Patricia Toro, MD MPH)

September 3, 2024

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is back in the news. Earlier this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the most recent mpox outbreak a public health emergency, due to a surge of cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and surrounding countries.

Mpox is primarily transmitted by skin-to-skin contact with an mpox rash or scabs from an infected individual or from close contact with an infected animal. Mpox may also spread through close contact with objects, fabrics, and surfaces that have not been disinfected after use by someone with an infection.

While there are two primary strains, or ‘clades’ of mpox, both can be largely prevented with the available vaccine. The JYNNEOS vaccine is given as a 2-dose vaccine, 28 days apart. Right now, the CDC is only recommending that high-risk individuals receive the vaccine series. The control of mpox in Africa has been hampered by lack of vaccine availability in DRC and nearby countries. The latest strain appears to be both more transmissible and potentially more deadly.

No countries in North or South America have reported this latest strain of mpox so far, although it has been found in Europe and Asia. The movement of people around the globe means that it’s highly likely that there will be cases in North America at some point. While employers need to monitor this situation, mpox is unlikely to become a pandemic like COVID-19 or be a serious factor in the workplace.

Implications for employers:

-        Employers can share information about mpox with their employees, including this link that has a vaccine finder.

-        This 2022 Harvard Business Review mpox article, written by myself and colleagues, has 6 employer considerations for the workplace that are still relevant.

Thanks for reading.  You can find previous posts in the Employer Coverage archive

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Addendum to Friday’s post: The FDA has also now approved the Novavax COVID-19 vaccination. This is a vaccine based on the JN.1 variant, an earlier ancestor of the current dominant strain (K.3.1.1)

Wednesday: FDA approves new colorectal cancer screening test