News
RESPTC Region 2 Rapidly Convenes SPTCs to Share Information in Response to the Current DRC Mpox Outbreak
December 14, 2023

Since January 2023, there have been a total of 12,569 suspected mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with a case fatality rate of 4.6%. Mpox disease is caused by the mpox Virus (MPXV). This current outbreak in the DRC is due to Clade I, formerly known as the Congo Basin or Central African clade. This clade is known to be more severe with higher transmission rates, increased virulence, and greater potential for complications.
In response to this outbreak, the NYC Health + Hospitals /Bellevue (NYC H+H/Bellevue) and the Region 2 Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC) promptly convened Special Pathogen Treatment Centers (SPTCs) across New York and New Jersey to share the latest information and provide free resources to health care facilities and the public. In addition, the RESPTC will continue to post updated resources on their website such as NYC H+H’s monthly travel screening lists to support facilities with prompt identification, isolation and/or specialized evaluation and management. The website also hosts RESPTC and partner resources including mpox fact sheets, Department of Health resources, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Health advisories.
“NETEC is working with federal partners and Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers (RESPTCs) across the country to ensure proper management of any patient suspected of infection with Clade I MPXV. We remind all health care facilities to identify, isolate, and inform – and to make use of the tensive resources available on the NETEC website.”
- Aneesh Mehta, Co-Principal Investigator for NETEC at Emory University
The National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC) also offers support for United States health care agencies that encounter or could encounter a case of MPXV infection. Support includes free, ongoing guidance and resources, free consultations, and technical support through NETEC’s online service request portal or via email at info@netec.org.
Furthermore, with this clade of MPXV and its heightened virulence and transmission potential, waste involving Clade I MPXV is presently classified as a Category A infectious substance. The categorization underlines the need for high-level precautions in health care settings and laboratories to manage the risk associated with this outbreak. NETEC, along with the CDC, have put together specific mpox Category A waste management resources for health care facilities.
These available resources from the Region 2 RESPTC, NETEC, and the CDC helps all parties stay informed and aware of any updates.