Mpox (monkeypox) in New York City
Is mpox going around in New York City?
Mpox, formerly called monkeypox, is caused by the monkeypox virus. New York City was the center of the 2022 US outbreak. Cases fell sharply once vaccination ramped up, but they never reached zero, and the city continues to record new infections.
The virus spreads mostly through close, skin-to-skin contact, including sex, and through contact with contaminated bedding, towels or clothing.
Know the signs
Mpox (monkeypox) symptoms
- A rash or sores that go through stages: bumps, blisters, then scabs
- Sores on the face, hands, feet, chest, genitals or anus
- Fever and chills
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Headache and muscle aches
- Exhaustion
- Sometimes sore throat, cough or congestion
How it spreads
Mpox spreads through direct contact with the rash, scabs or body fluids of someone who is infected, and less commonly through respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face contact. A person is contagious until the rash has fully healed and new skin has formed, usually two to four weeks.
The local picture
Mpox in the five boroughs
HealthNarc imports the CDC's weekly provisional mpox counts for New York City and combines them with community reports of rash, fever and swollen lymph nodes.
The two-dose JYNNEOS vaccine is available in New York City. NYC Health maintains current eligibility guidance and a list of vaccination sites.
What to do
If you notice a new, unexplained rash or sores, avoid close contact with others and see a healthcare provider for testing. Vaccination before or shortly after an exposure reduces the risk of infection and of severe illness.
Where the data comes from
Sources for Mpox data
The live figure above is the citywide count from the official feed HealthNarc imports (NYC Health or the CDC’s National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System) for the latest four published weeks, compared with the four weeks before. Where no official feed exists, it falls back to community reports from the last 28 days. For exposure notices and guidance, use these sources:
In the news
Mpox headlines
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Headlines link to their publishers. HealthNarc does not verify or endorse outside reporting.
Common questions
Mpox in NYC: questions people ask
- Who should get the mpox vaccine in NYC?
- NYC Health recommends vaccination for people at higher risk of exposure. Eligibility details and vaccination sites are on the NYC Health mpox page linked above.
- How long is someone with mpox contagious?
- From the start of symptoms until every sore has scabbed, fallen off and been replaced by a fresh layer of skin, which typically takes two to four weeks.
- Is mpox still around in New York City?
- Yes, at much lower levels than in 2022. The live numbers on this page reflect current CDC counts for New York and recent community reports.
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