Summit, Cuyahoga health officials report outbreak of mpox, formerly called monkey pox

Health officials in Summit and Cuyahoga counties said they have seen a small outbreak of mpox, previously known as monkey pox.

Mpox is part of the same family of viruses that cause smallpox, the federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says on its website. Symptoms include a rash that turns into scabs before healing.

In Summit County, there have been five reported cases during the past two weeks. Cuyahoga County has reported nine cases since February.

One of the cases reported in Cuyahoga County involved a person who attended Cleveland Leather Weekend in early April. Health officials there said they were on "high alert" for any other cases connected to that event.

Mpox often spreads to humans through close contact with an infected person or contaminated materials, the CDC said.

In Summit County, public health officials have alerted physicians to be on the lookout for those who may be infected, said Marlene Martin, spokesperson for Summit County Public Health.

The department continues to offer vaccines for those who have been exposed or considered in a high-risk demographic. Those interested should contact the health department at 330-375-2772, she said.

People at higher risk of contracting mpox include those who have multiple sex partners, sex workers and healthcare workers, according to the World Health Organizataion.

Besides a rash, other symptoms include a fever, chills and swollen lymph nodes. Flu-like symptoms usually start within 21 days of exposure, with a rash emerging one to four days later, the CDC said.

The first human case of mpox was documented in 1970 in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2022, mpox spread around the world, including in the U.S.

Mpox is not life threatening and people generally recover after a couple of weeks. But people with severely weakened immune systems, babies, people with a history eczema and those who are pregnant are more likely to become severely ill, the CDC said.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Health officials in Akron, Cleveland report mpox monkey pox outbreak