In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., professor of laboratory medicine and pathology and clinical virologist at Mayo Clinic. They discuss the upsurge of mpox cases, particularly in Africa, and why the World Health Organization has declared it a public health emergency of international concern.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• Background information on the monkeypox virus, and the current outbreak situation.
• What is contributing to the rapid spread of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries.
• How the current mpox outbreak compares to the global outbreak in 2022, and lessons learned that could be applied today.
• Testing options for diagnosing mpox.
• What can be done to control the spread of mpox and prevent future outbreaks.