No Need For Public To Panic About Monkeypox: County Health Officials

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — With 12 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Westchester County, health officials feel there is some good news in that the disease is not COVID-19.

County Executive George Latimer said Friday at a news conference that there are 1,470 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the United States, with 414 in New York. There are 389 cases in New York City.

He said it was important to understand that the 12 individuals in the county, while having tested positive for monkeypox, have recovered.

"It is a painful disease," Latimer said, "but not necessarily a fatal disease."

County Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler said that the general public does not need to panic.

She said the difference between monkeypox and COVID-19 is the way its transmitted.

"COVID can spread simply by talking with a person in close proximity in a room," Amler said. "That is why we wear a mask and keep 6 feet away."

That is not true with monkeypox, she said.

"It is primarily spread skin to skin," Amler explained, adding that someone who has a sore or a rash can spread it through contact with another person or through clothing that has touched the infection. It can also be spread through intimate contact such as sex.

She said the symptoms are also different from COVID-19. They include an intense headache, swelling of the lymph nodes, muscle aches and a rash that can crust over on the face, inside the mouth and other parts of the body.

Amler said that testing for monkeypox is also different from testing for COVID-19.

Where COVID-19 tests can be taken when someone doesn't have any symptoms, with monkeypox, there's no way to test unless you have a rash, which is one of the symptoms.

There are vaccines that can be administered to someone who may have been exposed to monkeypox to help prevent illness or help slow the spread of the disease. Two doses of the vaccine are required.

Latimer said that if you believe you have symptoms of monkeypox you should contact a health professional and get tested at that time.

The county has so far received 450 doses of monkeypox vaccine from the state. One hundred doses each have been distributed to Westchester Medical Center, Open Door Family Medical Center and St. John's Riverside Hospital's Hope Community Center.

The Westchester County Department of Health received 50 doses, and White Plains Hospital/Family Medicine Clinic received 10.

New Rochelle and Mount Vernon will receive the remaining 90 doses.

Latimer said that the county health department will be receiving, in Phase II of distribution, 520 doses for its clinics. The vaccines will be given out by appointment only, health officials said, to people who meet the criteria. Call 914-813-5000 for more information.

He said the county will concentrate on areas with the most population and will be in touch with the state if there seems to be a need for more vaccines.

"I think we are in a good proportion" of available doses and number of cases, Latimer said.

He said that, because monkeypox can be spread through what is considered intimate contact — kissing, cuddling or sex — the county will be having a conference with representatives of The LOFT in order to help members of the LGBTQ community better understand the disease and know how they can get help.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, at this time, it is now known if monkeypox can spread through semen or vaginal fluids.