Chicago’s Mpox Outbreak Included Other Sexually Transmitted Infections

(Precision Vaccinations News)

A study led by Chicago Department of Public Health researchers published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases involved estimating rates of HIV, gonorrhea, and chlamydia among mpox patients.

This study was published on November 8, 2023, and identified factors related to mpox severity from June 2022 to March 2023.

These researchers concluded that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) could facilitate mpox transmission. 

Of the 1,124 mpox patients, 44% had HIV, and 70% had a previous or current STI, with 39% having had at least three previous STI episodes.

Of 335 vaccinated mpox patients, 55% had received one dose of the JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN) vaccine, and 45% had received two doses.

In total, 17.6% has received one or more JYNNEOS vaccination before mpox infection.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on October 25, 2023, that post-JYNNEOS vaccination reinfection cases have been published and that they are aware of less than 10 cases of probable reinfection.

The CDC reported Vaccine Effectiveness of JYNNEOS against mpox ranges from 36%–75% for 1-dose vaccination and 66%–89% for 2-dose vaccination.

“Future research should examine predictors of mpox infection among those with STIs, including other STIs, such as syphilis, HIV risk at STI screening or anatomical site of infection,” wrote these researchers.

As of October 2023, there has been a significant increase in mpox outbreaks in the European Region.

In the last month, 21 countries reported mpox cases, with Portugal reporting the highest relative increase in cases (n = 86).