Mpox outbreak among men who have sex with men in Kraków, Poland; June-November 2022.

Abstract

Introduction: Mpox is a zoonotic disease caused by mpox virus. Sporadic cases reported before 2022 were almost universally linked to a direct contact with animals or travel to endemic regions of Africa. However, in 2022, a significant shift occurred in human‑to‑human transmission, leading to a global outbreak in 117 countries. In Poland, 217 cases of mpox were reported.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and coinfections with sexually transmitted pathogens among patients with mpox.

Patients and methods: We retrospectively analyzed all mpox cases diagnosed at the University Hospital in Kraków between June 2022 and November 2022.

Results: Forty‑five patients at a median (interquartile range) age of 34 (19-48) years were diagnosed with mpox. Most of them (n = 44; 98%) were men, 42 (93%) identified themselves as men who have sex with men (MSM). Twenty‑two of the patients (49%) had previously been diagnosed with HIV. Together with mpox diagnosis, new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were identified. Specifically, 4 patients (9%) were newly diagnosed with HIV, 5 with syphilis, 4 with Chlamydia trachomatis infection, 3 with Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection, and 2 with Ureaplasma urealyticum infection; in this group, 4 patients (33%) had more than 1 sexually transmitted coinfection.

Conclusions: The 2022 mpox outbreak in Kraków primarily affected MSM and was transmitted through sexual contact. Health care professionals should be aware of emerging STIs. Educational initiatives should emphasize the importance of vaccinations, safe sexual practices, and regular testing.