Even though The World Health Organization declared mpox a global health emergency following a surge of cases in Africa, cases in Arizona and the U.S. have continued to decrease since the 2022 outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
As of Aug. 14, the Maricopa County Health Department had identified 39 cases so far in 2024 — more than the 23 cases seen in 2023 but significantly less than the nearly 480 cases reported in 2022.
However, a highly contagious and severe strain of mpox is on the move across continents following a major outbreak in central Africa.
