First Juvenile Monkeypox Case Detected In NYC, Officials Say

NEW YORK CITY — A child case of monkeypox has been detected in New York City for the first time, officials said Friday.

“There is a juvenile case of MPV (or monkeypox) in New York City," said Ashwin Vasan, the city's health commissioner, in a statement.

"While we understand the concerns of families, we also know that the overall risk of exposure for children in the city remains very low."

Health officials released few details about the case other than it was linked to a "household contact."

The case comes as Vasan and other health officials highlighted a recent drop in monkeypox cases.

Daily detected cases peaked at an average of 72 per day when August began, but they stood at nine daily cases as of Thursday, although the more recent data could be incomplete, data shows.

There have been 2,888 total cases detected in the city as of Friday.

City Council members Thursday grilled Vasan about the city's response to the monkeypox outbreak, especially on vaccines, which have been in short supply.

Vasan said the city in coming weeks will shift to an intradermal vaccine injection method that could extend the number of doses. But he noted that training medical personnel could take time, so the city will continue the traditional subcutaneous injections as well.

Monkeypox is spread by direct contact with a rash or sores of someone who has the virus, as well as contact with clothing, bedding and other items used by a person with monkeypox, officials said.

Most cases in New York City have been with men who have sex with men, but health officials stress that anyone can contract the virus.

For more information about monkeypox in New York City can be found here.