CBS News Baltimore health officials reported a “notable increase” in Mpox cases so far this year. However, the risk to the general public is low, officials said.
Between Jan. 1 and Nov. 20, the health department recorded 24 Mpox cases in the city, with more than half occurring since Sept. 1. In 2024, there were seven cases reported in Baltimore, according to officials.
During the peak of a global Mpox outbreak in 2022, 241 cases were reported in Baltimore between July 2022 and December 2022, health officials said. The virus has remained at low levels since the fall of 2022.
“The risk of mpox to the general population remains very low,” Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Taylor said. “We do not mean to alarm anybody. However, we wanted to ensure the public was aware of this increase in cases, especially so that people at higher risk of being exposed to mpox can take actions to protect themselves.”