New York City has seen an increase in Mpox cases since the beginning of the year. Between January 1 and March 6, there were 256 confirmed cases of the virus, with most cases among people who were not vaccinated against Mpox or had only received one dose.
Between October and April 15, the city reported an average of 36 Mpox cases per month, with a peak of 51 confirmed cases in January. However, there was a significant increase in reported case numbers since then, with an average of 36 cases per month.
The health department issued a health advisory on the rise in Mpox cases and emphasized that vaccination is crucial to prevent the spread of the disease. Of the confirmed cases from October through April 15, 73% were among individuals who were not vaccinated or had only received one dose of the vaccine. Additionally, most cases (94%) were among men who have sex with men. While most cases were mild and required no hospitalization, some people did need medical attention due to severe symptoms.