Monitoring and Characteristics of Mpox Contacts, Virginia, USA, May-November 2022

Abstract

During 2022, a global outbreak of mpox resulted primarily from human-to-human contact. The Virginia Department of Health (Richmond, VA, USA) implemented a contact tracing and symptom monitoring system for residents exposed to monkeypox virus, assessed their risk for infection, and offered interventions as needed. Among 991 contacts identified during May 1-November 1, 2022, import records were complete for 943 (95.2%), but 99 (10.0%) were not available for follow-up during symptom monitoring. Mpox developed in 28 (2.8%) persons; none were healthcare workers exposed at work (n = 275). Exposure risk category and likelihood of developing mpox were strongly associated. A total of 333 persons received >1 dose of JYENNOS (Bavarian Nordic, https://www.bavarian-nordic.com) vaccine, most (n = 295) administered after virus exposure. Median time from exposure to vaccination was 8 days. Those data tools provided crucial real-time information for public health responses and can be used as a framework for other emerging diseases.

Keywords: United States; Virginia; contact tracing; monkeypox virus; mpox; outbreak; response; viruses.

Figure 1

Mpox contact tracing and symptom monitoring cohort (n = 991), Virginia, USA, May 1–November 1, 2022. Analyzed subcohorts included persons in whom mpox developed (n = 28) and healthcare workers exposed at work (n = 275).

Figure 2

Reported monkeypox virus exposure setting categories from mpox contact tracing and symptom monitoring cohort (n = 991), Virginia, USA, May 1–November 1, 2022. For persons in whom mpox developed while being monitored (n = 28), asterisk indicates where initial reported exposure setting differed from most likely infection source.