Despite a steady decline in cases, the Mpox virus continues to circulate within key populations, underscoring the need for ongoing vaccination efforts and public health awareness. Dispatch: Mpox Epidemiology and Vaccine Effectiveness, England, 2023 . Image Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases , researchers evaluated the epidemiology of mpox and the effectiveness of the Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN) vaccine in England in 2023.
Mpox cases declined in England after peaking in July 2022, which mainly affected gay men, bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and remained low into 2023. However, cases continued at a steady frequency throughout 2023, signaling ongoing transmission. The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed that the risk of mpox is moderate for GBMSM.
About the study In the present study, researchers analyzed mpox epidemiology in England in 2023 and the effectiveness of the MVA-BN vaccine. They accessed the Second-Generation Surveillance System of the United Kingdom (UK) Health Security Agency for records of highly probable and confirmed mpox cases between January and December 2023. Records were deduplicated using patient and specimen identifiers.
A highly probable case had a positive Orthopoxvirus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result. A confirmed case had a positive mpox virus-specific PCR result. Local health teams obtained self-reported behavioral .