CDC Urges Mpox Vaccination for Gay and Bisexual Men During Pride Season

The CDC advocates for mpox vaccination, particularly targeting gay and bisexual men, ahead of Pride celebrations to combat the virus’s impact on this demographic. With recent cases predominantly affecting unvaccinated individuals, public health campaigns like the Summer of Pride aim to raise awareness and promote vaccination efforts at Pride events nationwide.

CDC Encourages Mpox Vaccination Ahead of Pride Events

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is promoting the mpox vaccine, especially among gay and bisexual men, as Pride celebrations commence across the country. The virus, formerly known as monkeypox, primarily affects this demographic, with 90% of recent U.S. cases involving men who identify as gay or bisexual, and most of whom were unvaccinated.

Mpox spreads through close contact and contaminated materials. Symptoms include fever, rash, headache, muscle pain, and swollen lymph nodes. Although cases have decreased significantly since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a public health emergency in 2022, the CDC reports around 59 new weekly cases in the U.S. as of April 2023.

Vaccination remains crucial; the Jynneos vaccine is highly effective in preventing mpox and reducing symptom severity if contracted. Public health initiatives, such as the Summer of Pride campaign, aim to raise awareness and encourage vaccination. This push includes participation at dozens of Pride events nationwide.

First Human Death from H5N2 Bird Flu in Mexico

Mexico has reported the first human death from the H5N2 avian influenza strain. The 59-year-old male patient from Mexico City, with no prior exposure to poultry or animals, succumbed after being bedridden in the hospital since April. This case raises concerns among scientists due to its novel nature and potential links to avian flu outbreaks in farm animals.

H5 viruses commonly affect wild birds but can severely impact domestic poultry, posing risks for human infection. Though previous human infections involved different strains like H5N1, experts are investigating whether the H5N2 case is isolated or related to other bird flu strains prevalent in North America. The WHO has assessed the current risk to the general population as low, but the situation remains under close scrutiny for potential virus reassortment and a more significant outbreak.