Two additional confirmed cases of monkeypox have been identified in Suffolk County, according to the New York State Department of Health, bringing the total number of cases in Suffolk to three.
There are a total of 153 confirmed cases in New York as of July 7, according to the State Department of Health. To date, 141 cases have been confirmed in New York City, six in Westchester County and one each in Sullivan, Chemung and Rockland counties, in addition to the three in Suffolk.
State health officials today announced New York’s monkeypox response strategy, which aims to distribute the limited amount of monkeypox vaccine to “persons with known or probable exposure in areas with the highest number of cases.”
Statewide eligibility currently includes:
- Persons with recent exposure to monkeypox in the past 14 days.
- People at high risk for recent exposure to monkeypox, including members of the gay, bisexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming communities and other communities of men who have sex with men and who have engaged in intimate or skin-to-skin contact with others during the last 14 days in areas where monkeypox is spreading.
- Individuals who have had skin-to-skin contact with someone on a social network experiencing monkeypox activity, including men who have sex with men who meet partners through an online website, digital application (“app”) or social event, such as a bar or party.
The federal government distributed 8,195 doses of the monkeypox vaccine to New York State, with 5,989 doses going to New York City. Of the remaining 2,206 doses, 750 will be distributed in Suffolk County, 450 in Westchester County, 400 in Nassau County, 300 in Saratoga County and 40 each in Rockland and Sullivan counties.
Tomorrow, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone will
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, accompanied by Northwell Health officials and LGBTQ+ advocates, will announce the introduction of a monkeypox vaccine in Suffolk County tomorrow.
The county, in partnership with Northwell Health, will begin hosting pop-up vaccine clinics for eligible individuals next week on Fire Island, including in Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines, according to a media advisory from the county executive’s office.
The state Department of Health said today it has launched a public education campaign to provide information about monkeypox to New Yorkers. The campaign includes a website with free downloadable information materials.
“Monkeypox is a rare viral infection that does not usually cause serious illness,” the state Department of Health said. “Although the current strain of monkeypox circulating in the U.S. is rarely fatal, the symptoms can be extremely painful and people may have permanent scarring as a result of the rash.”
So far, there have been no deaths related to the current outbreak, health officials said.
Anyone can contract monkeypox, which is spread primarily through close physical contact between people. Based on the current epidemic, some populations are affected more than others, including men who have sex with men.
Information from previous outbreaks around the world indicates that elderly New Yorkers, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant people and children under the age of 8 may be at increased risk for severe outcomes, the State Department of Health said.
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