RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts are offering free mpox vaccinations in September as part of an effort to keep Virginians safe while cases surge worldwide.
The World Health Organization declared mpox a public health emergency after around 15,000 cases were recently identified, most of which are concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding countries.
According to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), there have only been four reported cases of mpox in the state since May and it doesn’t appear that the new, more severe strain — known as “clade one” — has made it’s way to the Commonwealth yet, but local health experts told 8News that the best way to control the spread is to get ahead of it.
600 cases of mpox were reported in Virginia during an outbreak of an older strain two years ago. “Clade one,” which is from east Africa, is known to be easily transmissible and more deadly than the old strain. Dr. Kyle Enfield from University of Virginia Health explained why mpox can be difficult to contain.