New York City health officials Wednesday added a handful of new suspected monkeypox cases to the growing tally. The update brought the total number of cases to 62 as that federal authorities expanded their vaccination guidance amid the disease outbreak in the US.
The latest additions mark a doubling of cases in the last six days and a 288% increase in the last two weeks.
Experts agree that total cases in New York City, and nationally, are likely to be significantly underreported given limited testing and other issues related to monkeypox, a disease generally confined to the mainland. African.
The city’s Health Department announced the latest case count in a Wednesday tweet that was remarkably, and similarly to those on Monday and Tuesday, without reference to new open appointments at the only Manhattan clinic prepared to offer the vaccine.
As of today, 62 people have tested positive for orthopoxvirus in NYC, which is presumed to be monkeypox.
While anyone can get monkeypox, current cases are primarily spreading among social networks of gay, bisexual & other men who have sex with men. Info: https://t.co/hR9Yuw1w2G
— nychealthy (@nycHealthy) June 29, 2022
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New York City began offering the monkeypox vaccine last week to at-risk groups, and the outbreak at this point was primarily linked to men who have sex with men, officials say, but demand was so high that walk-ins were closed within hours.
After again running out of vaccines over the weekend, the city’s Health Department said it was in ongoing talks with the CDC to secure more doses. It’s unclear when the supply might stabilize, but Mayor Eric Adams says the city is ready.
“They gave us 1,000. As soon as they gave us 1,000, we put out 1,000. And now we’re trying to get more here in the city to spread around,” Adams said Tuesday. “And as soon as they give them to us, we will give them to them.”
State Senator Brad Hoylman told our sister network NBC New York that the state planned to announce that more vaccines are on the way, but as of Wednesday afternoon, that announcement has yet to come.
“This is yet another example of a public health failure. And consider what we just went through with COVID-19, we should be much more prepared,” said New York City Councilman Erik Bottcher, one of the local leaders who say the government is failing the city and its comparatively larger LGBTQ population.
In total, New York City accounts for more than 20% of the 306 cases diagnosed across the country, according to the CDC. There have been at least two cases in New Jersey, while Connecticut has seen none, according to federal data.
While monkeypox is contagious and rare in the United States, health officials say the risk to the general public is fairly low. And this is not COVID again.
Unlike in the early days of the COVID pandemic, when there was no effective treatment, there are now multiple vaccines that work against the orthopoxvirus that causes monkeypox. It’s just a matter, again, of ensuring a sufficient supply.
Bavarian Nordic, which makes the Jynneos monkeypox and smallpox vaccine, says it is committed to getting its doses wherever they are needed.
“We support the decision by health clinics in New York City and the US Government to proactively offer Jynneos to at-risk communities,” a company spokesperson said. “The distribution of the vaccine around the world is controlled by governments. In the United States, distribution of the vaccine is managed by the CDC. To date, we have not turned down a single request from governments that have requested doses of the vaccine. In the coming days, we will work to produce more vaccines if necessary.”
The US government said on Tuesday it would immediately release 56,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine from the strategic national stockpile, with 240,000 doses to follow in the coming weeks.
For now, the only clinic in New York City that offers monkeypox vaccines as available is the Chelsea Sexual Health Clinic (303 Ninth Avenue in Manhattan). The clinic is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm Previously, the clinic had to turn people away after running out of vaccine.
How do you get monkeypox?
The CDC issued new guidance on monkeypox last week as the number of suspected cases rose across the country, marking the largest monkeypox outbreak in US history, which has generally been reported. limited to other continents.
Although the CDC they say the risk to the general public remains low, people are urged to avoid close contact with sick people, including those with skin or genital lesions, as well as sick or dead animals. Anyone showing symptoms, such as unexplained rashes or lesions, should contact their health care provider for guidance.
It is also advisable to avoid the consumption of meat that comes from wild game or the use of products (such as creams, powders or lotions) that come from wild animals in Africa.
What is monkeypox?
Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958, when outbreaks occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research, giving rise to its name.
The first human case was reported in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which still has the majority of infections. Other African countries where it has been found: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone.
Human symptoms of monkeypox are similar to but milder than smallpox symptoms, the CDC says. It presents as a flu-like illness accompanied by swollen lymph nodes and a rash on the face and body.
Monkeypox begins with a fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion. Monkeypox also causes the lymph nodes to swell, something that smallpox does not. The incubation period is usually 7 to 14 days, but can range from 5 to 21 days.
The CDC is urging healthcare providers in the US to be vigilant for patients who have monkeypox-like rashes, regardless of whether they have traveled or are at specific risk for monkeypox. See more information about the travel advisory here.
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