MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — Mecklenburg County health officials say, as of this month, there have been 16 confirmed cases of mpox.
While the number of cases is low and exposures were isolated, health officials said it’s important to be aware of the symptoms and act quickly if you have any.
Symptoms of mpox can include fever and/or chills, headaches and body aches, swollen lymph nodes, rashes, lesions, sores and exhaustion. The disease was previously known as monkeypox, but the World Health Organization recommended the new name "mpox" in 2022 to reduce stigmatizing language.
The county health department is reporting 10 confirmed cases of mpox among Mecklenburg County residents in February, up from six reported in January. Nearly 120 people, including some children, were potentially exposed to the 16 confirmed cases.
Mecklenburg County Public Health Director Raynard Washington said families that were exposed have been notified.
"They are aware and are monitoring as directed, so there’s no global worry," he said. "We’re still talking about a really small number of cases and, relatively speaking, a small number of exposures."
The new spike in cases comes more than a year and a half after the virus first showed up in Mecklenburg County.
"It is more than what we have seen per case in the prior outbreak that we had last year and so I want to make sure that we’re communicating clearly with the public about what the risk is and folks are alert and cautious," Washington said.
Mpox is typically transmitted through close physical and sexual contact.
Anyone who may be high-risk can get a free vaccine at a Mecklenburg County public health clinic. More information from the health department on mpox and where to get a vaccine can be found here.
Contact Destiny Richards at drichards5@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.