Mpox in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention Facilities during 2022 Global Outbreak

Abstract

Translate Article

Take Notes

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers are hot spots for infectious disease spread, as manifested during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mpox cases among ICE detainees during the 2022 global outbreak were investigated and a Freedom of Information Act request for mpox testing data from January to November 2022 was submitted, focusing on demographic and clinical information. Seven detainees across five facilities in Texas, Arizona, and New Jersey were tested. Two detainees tested positive, revealing a 28.6% positivity rate. One detainee received antiviral treatment. Overall, few migrant detainees have been evaluated for mpox. The limited number of mpox tests suggest that additional cases of mpox may have been missed. Adequate resources for mpox testing, treatment, and prevention within detention facilities are critical to limit spread among migrants.