Michigan Sees Uptick in Mpox Cases Across State

Michigan continues to see an uptick in Mpox cases across the state. Since February there have been 16 confirmed/probable cases identified in Genesee, Kent, Oakland, Ottawa, and Macomb counties, as well as the city of Detroit. While the current rate of new cases is significantly lower than case rates during the peak of the outbreak in 2022, the potential for a larger resurgent outbreak continues to increase as we see an increase in transmission across multiple areas of Michigan. Cases are primarily among men between the age of 21-43, most of whom are men who have sex with men and live with HIV. 

Family physicians offering sexual health services should continue to encourage vaccination against Mpox for anyone who identifies behaviors that indicate a higher likelihood of exposure to Mpox. Vaccines are available at local health departments and many sexual health and HIV clinics in Michigan. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends vaccination with the 2-dose JYNNEOS vaccine series for:

• Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, transgender or nonbinary people who in the past six months have had one (or more) of the following:
  • A new STI diagnosis
  • More than one sex partner
  • Sex at a commercial sex venue (i.e., bathhouse)
  • Sex in association with a large public event in a geographic area where Mpox transmission is occurring
• Sexual partners of persons described above
• Persons who anticipate experiencing any of the above

For more information on Mpox-related services, including testing, clinical decision-making, and treatment, MDHHS encourages family physicians to review Integrating Mpox Vaccination, Testing and Treatment Into Sexual Health and HIV Clinical Care or go to www.michigan.gov/mpox.