Monkeypox Outbreak Turns More Severe

While the extent of the monkeypox outbreak appears to be slowing down, the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) disclosed today that people are experiencing severe manifestations of monkeypox virus (MPX) infection.

And the CDC confirmed there are medical countermeasures available to treat people infected with monkeypox.

During the CDC's Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity situational update, the staff highlighted people who are immunocompromised due to HIV or other conditions are at higher risk for severe manifestations of MPX than immunocompetent people.

The CDC says the majority with advanced HIV disease, not virally suppressed, and with a low CD4 cell count (e.g., <100-200) are at risk.

And because people with HIV-associated immunocompromise are at risk for severe manifestations of monkeypox, the HIV status of all sexually active adults and adolescents with suspected or confirmed monkeypox should be determined.

Additionally, the CDC says most immunocompetent patients recover with pain management, and SIGA Technologies, Inc.'s TPOXX® (Tecovirimat) should be considered for some conditions.

As of October 5, 2022, the CDC confirmed 26,311 monkeypox/orthopoxvirus cases in the USA since May 2022.

Furthermore, there have been twenty-seven related fatalities confirmed.

The good news is access to Denmark-based Bavarian Nordic's JYNNEOS® vaccine has improved.

There have been 873,552 doses of the U.S. FDA-authorized JYNNEOS vaccine administered in the 54 U.S. Jurisdictions reporting data as of October 4, 2022.

The CDC's Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, recently said to the media that new data indicates even a single dose of the JYNNEOS vaccine provides some protection against MPX infection as soon as two weeks after the shot.

As a real-world example, the New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene announced that starting today, the City will adopt a pre-exposure prophylaxis model by expanding eligibility for JYNNEOS vaccinations.

NYC has been the leader in vaccinations, with more than 130,000 first and second doses of JYNNEOS vaccines administered.

And NYC confirmed that 30,000 new vaccination appointments would become available on October 6, 2022, at 4 p.m. EST, under the new eligibility guidelines.

New Yorkers who received their first JYNNEOS doses are strongly advised to get their second doses 28 days after their first.

"As a community working closely together, we have radically reversed the trajectory of this virus," stated NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan in a press release. 

"By introducing preexposure prophylaxis vaccination – or reaching people who may be exposed in the future – we will protect even more New Yorkers and continue to blunt this outbreak."

This week's COCA Call included presenters from the CDC, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and Emory University, based in Atlanta, GA. These presenters disclosed no industry conflicts of interest.

Responsive consultations with CDC Monkeypox Response Clinical Escalations Team (email [email protected] or the CDC Emergency Operations Center at (770) 488-7100) are available.

Other monkeypox outbreak news is posted at Monkeypox Today.

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