Has mpox arrived in Westchester this year? What to know about clade I and II types

An mpox case in Sweden this month prompted the World Health Organization to declare a public health emergency, but the potentially-deadly strain of the virus has not yet made it to the United States.

There are two classifications of mpox, known as clade I and clade II. Clade I is more serious, and can sometimes result in death, while clade II typically has milder effects.

While the the WHO said Sweden confirmed a clade I case (specifically a strain called Ib) in August (the first outside Africa), and another case of the same strain has been confirmed in Thailand, clade II is the version of the virus usually found in the U.S.

Closer to home, Westchester County has had 106 clade II cases over the past few years in total, with the vast majority in 2022, said Dr. Sherlita Amler, Westchester’s health commissioner. There was a 2022 global outbreak — all reported cases in the U.S. were connected to the less virulent and contagious clade II.

“We had seven cases last year and we’ve had seven cases to date this year, so we could end up with more than the seven we had last year,” Amler said, adding: “Still not a large number of cases.”

However, Amler said she understands that people are concerned.

Here’s what to know about mpox, according to information posted online by the Westchester County Department of Health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the WHO.

What is mpox and where has it been prevalent?

Mpox is a virus that can spread from animals to people and between people.

Mpox has been prevalent in the Democratic Republic of Congo and some of its surrounding countries, according to health officials.

Who can get mpox and how?

Anyone can contract mpox, but the county health department said those who may be at higher risk for severe illness or death include people with weakened immune systems, older adults, children under 8 years old and pregnant people.

The virus is mostly spread through sexual and intimate contact, and "gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men are at the highest risk of getting mpox," the CDC said. This was also the case during the 2022 outbreak of clade II in the U.S.

The CDC has said there is low risk of clade I mpox coming to the U.S., based on the limited number of travelers. “The risk might change as more information becomes available, or if more cases appear outside central and eastern Africa,” the agency said.

Mpox needs close or intimate contact to spread, according to the CDC, so casual contact someone might have during travel is not as likely to spread it.

Westchester’s health department said people with mpox are infectious while they have symptoms, typically for two to four weeks. A rash, bodily fluids — such as pus or blood from skin lesions — and scabs are particularly infectious.

Clothing, bedding, towels and other shared things such as eating utensils/dishes that have been contaminated with the virus can also infect others.

People who closely interact with someone who has mpox, such as health care workers, household members and sexual partners, are at more risk.

Fact check: Claim of link between mpox and COVID-19 vaccines is 'nonsense'

What are the symptoms of mpox?

Mpox symptoms usually include rash, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, intense headache, muscle aches, back pain and low energy.

The rash typically starts in one to three days of a fever’s start. Lesions can be flat or slightly raised, filled with clear or yellowish fluid, and can then crust, dry up and fall off. Mpox rashes can look like some sexually transmitted diseases, such as herpes and syphilis.

How to protect yourself from mpox

The CDC said the best protection is two doses of JYNNEOS vaccine for at-risk populations.

To further protect yourself from contracting mpox, avoid the following:

• People who are sick with mpox signs and symptoms, such as with lesions on their skin or genitalia.

• Wild animals, alive or dead, in areas where mpox regularly occurs.

• Contaminated materials used by people who are sick — clothing, bedding or materials used in healthcare settings or that came into contact with wild animals.

• Avoid eating or preparing meat from wild animals (specifically bushmeat derived from jungle, wetland or savannah environments) or using products such as creams, lotions, powders derived from wild animals.

Other advice from county and federal health websites:

If you or a recent partner from the last 21 days have been exposed or have symptoms, see a healthcare provider. Cover rash/sores, wear a mask, and avoid close contact with others.

If living with someone who has mpox, the infected person should isolate and cover any skin lesions if they can. When physically close to the person, both of you should wear surgical masks. Avoid skin-to-skin contact whenever possible and use disposable gloves if you can't avoid direct contact with their rash. Also, mask up wear and gloves when handling any potentially contaminated clothing or bedding.

Regularly wash hands with soap and water, especially after contact with the person who is infected, the person's clothes, bed sheets, towels and other personal items that they touched. Wash the person’s clothes, towels and bedsheets and eating utensils with warm water and detergent.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Is mpox in Westchester NY? What to know about strains clade I and II