Eleven Connecticut residents have been diagnosed with mpox so far this year, up from four in 2023, according to the state Department of Public Health .
And Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani is concerned that too many of those most at risk are not fully vaccinated.
“The reason to bring attention to this right now is we know that one in three people who the CDC estimates to be at risk for mpox in Connecticut has received both vaccines,” Juthani said at a press briefing Monday. “In order to be fully vaccinated against mpox you need to receive two vaccine doses. Some people have received only one.”
The 11 patients are between the ages of 20 and 50 and most have not been hospitalized, according to a release. They live in Hartford, New Haven, New London and Fairfield counties, “We’re not going in the direction we’d like, which is to be able to see that we have no cases,” Juthani said.
There were 145 cases in 2022, when the mpox vaccine was released . There has not been a death in Connecticut associated with mpox.
“This has largely been circulating among people who are gay, men who have sex with men and in families where that may be a situation and there is close personal contact,” Juthani said.
“So if you are at risk the goal that we are trying to communicate out to people is that we have plenty of vaccines, that if you received only one vaccine, please come back and get a second, and if you have not been vaccinated at all take this opportunity, because we do know that mpox is circulating in Connecticut and we’d like to be able to keep people as protected as possible,” she said.
Juthani said immunity from full vaccination lasts up to five years and that national data show that “there are people who have received one dose and then had an active infection with mpox. … Broadly speaking we do know that if you’ve only received one shot, you still are at risk for getting mpox.”
Juthani said residents who are concerned about fever, swollen glands or a rash should contact their health care provider.
Anyone can get and spread mpox, but the current cases are primarily among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and their sexual partners, the health department said. Those who have multiple or anonymous sex partners have a higher likelihood of exposure to mpox, formerly known as monkeypox.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , mpox often starts with a rash on the hands, feet, chest, face, mouth or near the genitals or anus. The incubation period is three to 17 days, when there may be no other symptoms. The rash may turn into scabs before healing.
Other symptoms of mpox can include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle aches, backache, headache and respiratory symptoms.
The health department highly recommends vaccination for those who are at risk of mpox. Two doses of the vaccine are recommended. The CDC estimates that only one in three Connecticut residents at risk have received both doses of the vaccine.
For more information on the vaccine, contact your health care provider or visit the health department’s mpox page at ct.gov/dph/mpox .
Ed Stannard can be reached at estannard@courant.com .
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