Monkeypox in the United States and Around the World: Current Situation

For Everyone

What to know

  • There are two types of the virus that causes monkeypox, clade I and clade II. Both types can be spread, treated, and prevented in the same ways.
  • Each clade has two subclades (clade Ia and clade Ib; clade IIa and IIb).
  • Recent outbreaks of monkeypox have spread initially through intimate or sexual contact. In some cases, monkeypox was then spread within households.
  • There have been ongoing outbreaks of clade I monkeypox in Central and Eastern Africa since late 2023.
  • Recently, several Western European countries have reported outbreaks likely related to the Central and Eastern African outbreaks but affecting diferen.
  • Travel-associated clade I monkeypox cases have almost exclusively been attributed to subclade Ib; there have been no deaths associated with these cases and most people had relatively mild illness.
  • The ongoing global outbreak of clade IIb monkeypox that began in 2022 has caused more than 100,000 cases in 122 total countries, including 115 countries where monkeypox was not previously reported.
  • CDC has vaccination recommendations for people at risk in the United States or who are traveling to countries with clade I outbreaks or new clade II outbreaks.
A colorized transmission electron microscopic image of monkeypox virus particles, found within an infected cell

Current situation

In the United States

Clade I monkeypox

  • The risk posed by the clade I monkeypox outbreak to most people within the United States remains low.
  • Since November 2024, there have been 20 laboratory-confirmed cases of clade I monkeypox in the United States. All were diagnosed in people who:
  • We expect additional cases in Europe and the United States.

Reminder

Vaccination is an important tool in stopping the spread of monkeypox. If you have certain risk factors that make you eligible, you can help protect yourself from monkeypox by getting the 2-dose monkeypox vaccine.
Monkeypox Vaccination

Clade II monkeypox

Clade I Monkeypox Outbreaks
Cases of clade I monkeypox have been diagnosed worldwide.
Clade II Monkeypox Outbreaks
Clade II monkeypox is spreading in the United States and around the world.

Across the globe

Clade I monkeypox

  • Outbreaks of clade I monkeypox in Central and Eastern Africa continue.
  • Beginning in Fall 2025, several countries in Western Europe began reporting clade Ib monkeypox cases among individuals who had no documented history of international travel. These cases were likely related to male-to-male sexual contact.
  • Other travel-associated cases of clade I monkeypox have been reported from other parts of Africa, as well as Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, South America, and Australia.

Recent monkeypox outbreaks have low death rates

During recent outbreaks, death rates ranged from than less than 0.5% (clade Ib) to about 3% (clade Ia). Clade II is the type that caused the ongoing global outbreak that began in 2022. Fewer than 0.1% of people infected with clade II die from the disease.

Clade II monkeypox

  • Several countries in West Africa have been experiencing an outbreak of clade II monkeypox since summer 2025.

Global monkeypox case data

For global case data for clade I and clade II monkeypox since January 1, 2024, see Global Mpox Trends. Confirmed cases include those that are laboratory confirmed as monkeypox virus and may include cases only confirmed as orthopoxvirus. These data are provided for situational awareness and are subject to change.

What CDC is doing

  • CDC raises awareness for U.S. healthcare providers, including the latest guidance for diagnosing monkeypox and clinical decision-making.
  • CDC continues critical work to protect the United States from emerging and infectious diseases. CDC has collaborated closely with key partners in affected countries to help support efforts to stop monkeypox at the source.
  • CDC works closely with U.S. state, tribal, local, and territorial public health departments to provide recommendations for clinical management, diagnosis, and prevention of domestic monkeypox cases. in the U.S.
  • CDC continually increases capacity in communities across the United States for early detection of monkeypox through existing surveillance systems, including wastewater testing.
  • CDC raises awareness for healthcare providers, including the latest guidance for diagnosing monkeypox and clinical decision-making.
  • CDC collaborated with governmental and civil society partners in affected countries to collect and analyze case data, and to identify how monkeypox is spreading.
  • CDC coordinated technical assistance in response to urgent in-country needs, including: increasing the number of monkeypox testing sites; improving specimen transport networks to quickly identify new cases; assisting with Ministry of Health-led vaccine implementation; strengthening emergency management systems; improving case surveillance; and training healthcare workers.
  • CDC's staff throughout Africa provide critical, real-time information to inform U.S. preparedness efforts.

In the United States

  • CDC works closely with state, tribal, local, and territorial public health departments to provide recommendations for clinical management, diagnosis, and prevention of monkeypox cases in the U.S.
  • CDC continually increases capacity in communities across the United States for early detection of monkeypox through existing surveillance systems, including wastewater testing.
  • CDC raises awareness for healthcare providers, including the latest guidance for diagnosing monkeypox and clinical decision-making.
  • CDC has information and recommendations for members of the public, including those traveling to Central or Eastern Africa: Travel Health Notice and Health Alert Network advisory.
  • CDC continues to work with international partners to help reduce monkeypox transmission.

Resources

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Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)