The first patient arrived at Noah Kaufman’s urgent care clinic in early July, presenting with a cluster of painful, pimple-like lesions. The patient, a man in his thirties, was confused. He had no clear link to any known outbreak. A few weeks later, a second case appeared, then a third. Each patient was similarly perplexed. This pattern, Kaufman says, is the new, unsettling face of Mpox in Colorado.
“Right now, we see a lot of sweating. It’s really hot out. There’s a lot of close contact,” observes Kaufman, an emergency room physician. He notes that summer conditions are a perfect storm. Prolonged skin-to-skin contact whether at festivals or gatherings provides an ideal transmission route. The virus doesn’t spread easily through casual conversation. It requires sustained, intimate contact. With 18 cases recorded statewide this year, Colorado is alarmingly close to surpassing last year’s total of 21. Denver alone has seen six cases since June.
Health officials are tracing connections, but the picture is fragmented. “The recent Denver cases have no known links,” says Ryann Money of the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment. This absence of a clear cluster suggests silent community spread. The virus is finding opportunities in summer travel and social calendars. Seasonal spikes are becoming a predictable, yet dangerous, trend. Mpox causes a distinct rash, swollen lymph nodes, and profound fatigue. The painful lesions can persist for two weeks or more. While most cases this year involve adult men, the potential for wider spread exists.
The response hinges on awareness and prevention. The state health department strongly recommends vaccination for at-risk groups. This includes anyone with known exposure or those whose activities might increase risk. The vaccine, effective even after exposure, remains our best shield. Public health messaging must cut through summer’s noise. People need to recognize the symptoms early and seek testing. Avoiding close contact with anyone exhibiting a rash is crucial.
- Understand the symptoms of Mpox
- Get vaccinated if at risk
- Avoid close contact with those exhibiting a rash
- Seek testing if symptomatic
- Be aware of community spread
- Monitor health conditions during summer events
We beat back the 2022 global outbreak through swift action. The current uptick is a stark reminder that the virus hasn’t disappeared. It has settled into a seasonal pattern waiting for conditions to align. Our vigilance cannot be seasonal. As we enjoy the summer sun, a simple question lingers. Are we doing enough to prevent a familiar threat from gaining new ground?
| Year | Cases Recorded |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 21 |
| 2023 | 18 |
