A more virulent strain of the mpox virus, spreading rapidly across Africa, has raised alarms among global health experts. While this new clade of the virus has sparked concern, particularly following its first reported case outside Africa in Sweden, U.S. health officials remain cautiously optimistic that the outbreak will not pose a severe threat domestically.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reclassified mpox as a public health emergency of international concern, in light of the ongoing outbreak of clade I in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This clade is considered more transmissible and severe than clade II, which led to a global outbreak in 2022. Despite this, experts believe several factors could help mitigate the risk in the U.S., including widespread vaccination, previous exposure to clade II, and better healthcare infrastructure.

Dr. Boghuma Titanji, an infectious disease specialist at Emory University, highlighted that while the spread of clade I beyond Africa was expected, the U.S. is better equipped to handle potential cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has already heightened its surveillance, with no clade I cases reported in the country to date.

The CDC has expressed greater concern over clade I due to its higher transmission rate and potential severity. However, ongoing vaccination efforts and natural immunity from the 2022 outbreak may offer some protection. Still, the agency remains vigilant, particularly as recent mutations could make the virus more transmissible.

Experts urge continued caution, particularly in high-risk groups. While the U.S. is not yet experiencing significant cases, health officials warn that the situation could evolve, underscoring the importance of maintaining public health measures and vaccination efforts.