US Enhancing Mpox Testing and Vaccine Access for New Strain, Officials Report

By Julie Steenhuysen

CHICAGO – The United States has intensified its testing and surveillance efforts for a new strain of mpox and has ensured that vaccines are widely available at local pharmacies and community health centers, according to senior administration officials during a briefing on Friday.

While no cases of the more transmissible strain of the virus have been confirmed in the U.S., experts are preparing for that possibility following a declaration last month from the World Health Organization regarding a global public health emergency, marking the second such alert in two years.

The new strain, identified as clade Ib, has led to a significant increase in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with instances spilling over into neighboring countries. Travel-related cases have also been reported in Sweden and Thailand.

During Friday’s briefing, U.S. officials announced that any American doctor can now order an mpox test, which will be processed through national laboratory networks. Positive results that do not match the older strain will be sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for verification.

In Wayne County, Michigan, health officials reported a new mpox case last month, but further testing confirmed it was from the older strain known as clade II, according to a county health official.

Currently, the U.S. is seeing approximately three cases a day of the clade II virus, which triggered a public health emergency in 2022.

Officials noted ongoing efforts to make mpox vaccines available through local pharmacies. Because the Jynneos vaccine from Bavarian Nordic has been commercialized, it should be covered by most insurance plans. Vaccines are also accessible through public health departments and community health centers, regardless of insurance status, to encourage vaccination among individuals most at risk during the clade II outbreak in 2022, particularly men and bisexual men who have sexual contact with men.

The U.S. government has also incorporated mpox testing into its wastewater surveillance system, ensuring good coverage in most major cities, and is working to include clade I-specific testing.

Additionally, the government is developing rapid tests. Although this effort has faced challenges, an official mentioned that the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) Tech program, which previously facilitated the production of COVID-19 tests, is working on a rapid mpox test that may be available within the next few months.

Mpox typically presents with flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, and although it can be fatal, it primarily spreads through close contact, including sexual activity.