Monkeypox May Soon Be Uncontainable, Officials Warn As NYC Cases Climb

NEW YORK CITY — Monkeypox is poised to spread out of control in the city, according to a growing number of New York City officials raising the alarm.

Monkeypox cases Monday surpassed 600 — roughly double from a week before — amid persistent problems with vaccine supply and outreach, as well as testing and treatment shortages, said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.

"The window for containing the spread of monkeypox in NYC is closing fast," he tweeted.

Levine said the situation gave him a "bad case of déjà vu," alluding to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health department officials on Monday issued a health advisory on monkeypox that provides the most comprehensive look yet at the virus's spread in the city, in addition to guidance on testing, treatment and vaccination.

Almost all — 99 percent — of cases so far are among men who have sex with men, according to the document, which stresses that "anyone" is susceptible.

About 60 percent of cases are people who live in Manhattan, followed by Brooklyn with 18 percent, 11 percent from Queens, 10 percent from The Bronx and less than 1 percent from Staten Island, the advisory states.

Council Member Eric Bottcher echoed the advisory's assessment that there are likely "many more unreported cases."

"I believe there are far more than 600-plus cases that are being reported," Bottcher said in a recent video. "I just know so many people in my own social circle, so many constituents that are reaching out, who are testing positive for monkeypox."

But even as health department officials released new guidance, a debate has been raging within it over whether they should encourage gay men to reduce their number of sexual partners, according to a New York Times report.

Some epidemiologists have argued that public messaging should tell gay men to change their sexual behavior, while others believe the approach will stigmatize them, the report states.

The new guidance states patients should not have sex or close contact with "anyone who has new or unexpected lesions."

And a tweet Tuesday from the health department offered this advice to lower chances of getting monkeypox: "Activities with some risk include raves, parties or clubs where there is minimal clothing and direct skin to skin contact."

Avoiding stigmatizing people at risk of monkeypox prompted health officials to take another, unusual step Tuesday. They sent emails to city reporters asking to "be mindful" of New Yorkers coming to vaccination sites and do not photograph them without consent.

"Eligibility includes information that some may prefer to keep private," the email states. "We have also heard from some clients about their discomfort being filmed."

"We want to vaccinate as many people as we can and a respectful approach will ensure we can all do our jobs successfully."

No monkeypox vaccination appointments were available as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the health department's site.

Vaccine eligibility is only open for people who:

• Gay, bisexual, or other man who has sex with men, and/or transgender, gender non-conforming, or gender non-binary.
• Age 18 or older.
• Have had multiple or anonymous sex partners in the last 14 days.

Text "MONKEYPOX" to 692-692 to get alerts for vaccination appointments.