MPXV Transmission at a Tattoo Parlor

This letter to the editor describes a cluster of 21 mpox (MPXV) cases traced to piercing or tattooing procedures at a parlor in Cadiz, Spain between July 6–19, 2022. Patients, many of whom were female and minors had no known high-risk exposures, suggesting direct inoculation as a mode of transmission. Clinical features included regional lymphadenopathy, cutaneous necrosis, and umbilicated pustules. Environmental sampling found MPXV on 15 of 16 tested items. The outbreak investigation, contact tracing, and swift public health response were detailed. Authors highlight atypical transmission pathways and evolving epidemiology.

This letter to the editor describes a cluster of 21 mpox (MPXV) cases traced to piercing or tattooing procedures at a parlor in Cadiz, Spain between July 6–19, 2022. Patients, many of whom were female and minors had no known high-risk exposures, suggesting direct inoculation as a mode of transmission. Clinical features included regional lymphadenopathy, cutaneous necrosis, and umbilicated pustules. Environmental sampling found MPXV on 15 of 16 tested items. The outbreak investigation, contact tracing, and swift public health response were detailed. Authors highlight atypical transmission pathways and evolving epidemiology.