Update on Mpox in Virginia
August 12, 2025
Dear Colleague,
This letter provides important updates and reminders about mpox.
As of August 11, 2025, 19 mpox cases have been reported to VDH this year. For comparison, Virginia had 27 cases in 2024. A concerning spike occurred this July with 11 cases from three of the five health planning regions (seven in the Northern region, three in Central, and one in Southwest). Among the 2025 cases with available information, six of 17 (35%) were in people who recently traveled. This suggests that most infections were locally acquired. Four of 16 (25%) cases were in people with HIV and 13 of 17 (76%) were in people who were not vaccinated. Like recent years, most 2025 cases occurred in adult males.
To date, all mpox cases in Virginia have been caused by Clade II monkeypox virus. This is the strain responsible for the global outbreak that began in 2022. Other large Clade I and Clade II outbreaks are occurring, including in Central and Eastern Africa and in West Africa.
VDH recommends that clinicians remain vigilant about mpox and consider the following:
- Recommend vaccination to people who are eligible, including those who may have recent mpox exposure. Vaccines are expected to be effective for both clade I and clade II infections.
- Consider mpox in patients with epidemiologic characteristics and lesions or other clinical signs and symptoms consistent with mpox. Ask patients about their travel and sexual history in the 21 days before symptom onset.
- Test all suspected cases for mpox, even if the person has been vaccinated or had mpox in the past.
- Report any suspected or confirmed mpox case to your local health department using the VDH Confidential Morbidity Report Portal.
- Contact your local health department if a patient with suspected mpox has traveled or had contact with someone with mpox symptoms who traveled to Central or Eastern Africa in the 21 days before symptom onset. The Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) can perform clade-specific testing.
- Discuss mpox prevention and risk reduction strategies with all travelers to countries with ongoing human-to-human transmission of clade I mpox.
- For more information about mpox, contact your local health department or visit VDH’s Mpox Website for Healthcare Providers.
Thank you for partnering with VDH to keep Virginians safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
Karen Shelton, MD
State Health Commissioner