Possible Exposures Among Mpox Patients Without Reported Male-to-Male Sexual Contact - Six U.S. Jurisdictions, November 1-December 14, 2022

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023 Sep 1;72(35):944-948. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7235a2.

Abstract

The extent to which the 2022 mpox outbreak has affected persons without a recent history of male-to-male sexual contact (MMSC) is not well understood. During November 1-December 14, 2022, CDC partnered with six jurisdictional health departments to characterize possible exposures among mpox patients aged ≥18 years who did not report MMSC during the 3 weeks preceding symptom onset. Among 52 patients included in the analysis, 14 (27%) had a known exposure to a person with mpox, including sexual activity and other close intimate contact (eight) and household contact (six). Among 38 (73%) patients with no known exposure to a person with mpox, self-reported activities before illness onset included sexual activity and other close intimate contact (17; 45%), close face-to-face contact (14; 37%), attending large social gatherings (11; 29%), and being in occupational settings involving close skin-to-skin contact (10; 26%). These findings suggest that sexual activity remains an important route of mpox exposure among patients who do not report MMSC.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methionine
  • Mpox (monkeypox)*
  • Sexual Behavior

Substances

  • methionylmethylsulfonium chloride
  • Methionine