Virginia Research Day 2025

Medical Student Research Public Health

07 Analysis of Mpox Cases and Vaccination Uptake by Race in Virginia

Madi J Bautista, MPH, OMS II; Patrick Hurd, OMS II; Theresa J. McCann PhD, MPH; Teresa R. Johnson, MS PhD Corresponding author: mbautista@vcom.edu

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia Campus

In 2022, a global outbreak of Mpox (the disease caused by monkeypox virus infection) began, affecting countries that had previously had low or no incidence of the disease. The outbreak was caused by a monkeypox clade II virus with multiple mutations that led to unprecedented levels of human to-human transmission and may have contributed to the increased disease severity observed in these patients. Over 30,000 cases have been reported in the United States alone to date, with new cases continuing to be documented. Additionally, a Mpox outbreak originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in early 2023, caused by a monkeypox clade I virus. In August 2024, the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) as infections spread to neighboring countries in Central Africa and due to concerns about the potential for international spread. Infections with the outbreak-associated Clade I strain have now been documented in multiple countries across the African continent and in Europe.

The purpose of this study is to examine Mpox vaccine uptake within the Commonwealth of Virginia compared to national trends. Additionally, this study will compare Mpox vaccination uptake against other more common vaccines, like the annual influenza. Data for VA and the U.S. on the case incidence and vaccination rates, along with multiple demographic factors, are publicly available on the Virginia Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control websites, respectively. This data will be compared to address the proposed questions. As Clade II cases persist in the U.S. and as Clade I infections pose an ongoing international threat, assessing vaccination rates may help control the current outbreaks and prevent future diseases locally and globally. IRB has reviewed and determined this is research but not human subject research. IRB #2024-228

Poxviruses, members of the Poxviridae family, are DNA viruses known for causing diseases in both animals and humans. Smallpox, caused by the variola virus, is a human-only pathogen eradicated in 1980 demonstrating the power of targeted immunization strategies to combat infectious diseases. In contrast, monkeypox virus, another Poxviridae family member, can infect both humans and animals. However, monkeypox virus has sufficient antigenic cross reactivity with variola virus, allowing modified versions of the smallpox vaccine to induce protection against monkeypox. This cross-protection can be utilized to reduce human-to-human transmission of monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus consists of two clades: Clade I, found predominantly in Central and Eastern Africa, and Clade II, found in West Africa. Clade I viruses generally spread more easily and cause more severe illness in humans compared to Clade II isolates.

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2025 Research Recognition Day