By: Jen Fiddner, MPH, CIC, Infectious Disease Epidemiology & Jillian Irwin, MD, MPH, Medical Director
The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) has identified an increase in locally acquired clade II mpox infections among county residents. Nine infections have been reported in Allegheny County between January 1 and March 30, 2026. Only six infections were reported in all of 2025. ACHD strongly encourages mpox vaccination for people at risk of infection. Vaccination is recommended for individuals who meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Have anonymous sexual or intimate contact
- Have one or more sexually transmitted infections
- Identify as gay, bisexual, or other same-gender loving man who has sex with men
- Identify as transgender, gender non-binary, or gender-diverse
- Have had sexual or intimate contact with someone who may have mpox
These individuals should get vaccinated as soon as possible after suspected exposure (within two weeks for post-exposure prophylaxis).
For a limited time, Mpox vaccine is available for free at the ACHD immunization clinic and STD/HIV clinic. Additional community health care providers offering vaccine can be found on ACHD’s mpox webpage.
There are two types of the virus that causes mpox, clade I and clade II. Both types can be spread, treated, and prevented in the same ways. Clade II mpox cases continue to spread at low levels worldwide. There have been more than 53,000 cases of clade I mpox, which is associated with more severe, systemic disease than clade II, associated with outbreaks in Central and Eastern Africa. There have been several travel-associated clade I mpox cases worldwide, including in the U.S.
Mpox virus is transmitted through contact with the sores, scabs, or body fluids of an infected person. Infections occur through close, intimate situations, such as cuddling, kissing and sexual contact and by touching contaminated materials, such as clothing, bedding, or other linens used by an infected person.
An individual may experience all or only a few symptoms of mpox infection, including rash, fever, headache, myalgia, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes. Most healthcare facilities in Allegheny County have the capacity to test symptomatic individuals for mpox. Free testing is available at the ACHD’s STI/HIV clinic. Additional information about trends, testing, and patient guidance is available on the ACHD mpox website.