Likely Monkeypox Detected In 2 More People, NYC Health Officials Say

NEW YORK CITY — Two more likely cases of monkeypox have been detected within New York City, health officials announced Wednesday.

The diagnosis is based on two persons’ positive tests for orthopoxvirus — the type of virus that causes monkeypox, according to a city health department tweet.

Both cases are being presumed positive for monkeypox, as was the first potential infection in the city, officials said.

“We will be conducting contact tracing and monitoring and will refer people for care if necessary,” @nycHealthy tweeted. “Monkeypox is rare in New York City but we can prevent the spread.”

The three presumed monkeypox cases in New York City are part of a minor wave of infections across North America, Europe, Israel and Australia.

The outbreak is linked to sex at two recent raves in Spain and Belgium, The Associated Press reported.

The World Health Organization’s foremost monkeypox expert, Rosamund Lewis, said experts aren’t concerned about a global pandemic, despite hundreds of cases.

But she said it was critical to emphasize that the vast majority of cases being seen in dozens of countries globally are in gay, bisexual or men who have sex with men, so that scientists can further study the issue. She urged those at risk to be careful, and she emphasized that anyone — regardless of sexual orientation — is at potential risk of transmission.

“It’s very important to describe this because it appears to be an increase in a mode of transmission that may have been under-recognized in the past,” she said.

Monkeypox is known to spread when there is close physical contact with an infected person, their clothing or bedsheets.

More information about monkeypox can be found here.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.