During the summer of 2022, mpox cases were identified in countries that have not historically reported mpox cases, including the United States. Whole genome sequencing data indicates that these cases are being caused by Clade II MPXV; no case of mpox caused by Clade I MPXV have been detected in the United States during this outbreak. During 2022, Texas reported 2,970 probable and confirmed cases of mpox (see table below). Cases of mpox have continued to be reported in Texas in 2023 and 2024, although at a much slower rate than 2022.
Texas Mpox Cases by Public Health Region Table
Public Health Region |
Mpox Cases |
(PHR) |
2022 |
2023 |
2024* |
PHR 1 |
11 |
<5 |
<5 |
PHR 2/3 |
1,253 |
107 |
136 |
PHR 4/5N |
12 |
<5 |
<5 |
PHR 6/5S |
1,083 |
30 |
65 |
PHR 7 |
371 |
33 |
45 |
PHR 8 |
207 |
11 |
6 |
PHR 9/10 |
12 |
<5 |
<5 |
PHR 11 |
21 |
<5 |
<5 |
*2024 data for cases through 11/4/2024; data is preliminary and subject to change. |
During the summer of 2021, a case of mpox was identified in a Texas resident that had recently traveled to Nigeria. This case was not associated with the ongoing outbreak of mpox in countries that have not historically reported mpox as demonstrated by whole genome sequencing. No additional cases were reported that were associated with this case.
Prior to 2022, the largest outbreak of mpox in the United States was in 2003 when 47 probable and confirmed cases were reported in six states (Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin). Although no cases were reported in Texas, investigators determined the source of the outbreak to be pet prairie dogs that had been infected after being housed near small mammals imported from Ghana; these animals were originally imported from Ghana to Texas.