NEW YORK (PIX11) – The first case of Mpox, an infectious disease causing a painful rash, has been reported in New York City, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

This is the first known case of mpox clade I in the city. The individual who tested positive for the virus traveled internationally, according to officials.

A health advisory was issued to healthcare providers on Friday.

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“The New York City (NYC) Health Department has identified clade I mpox in a person who recently traveled to Europe,” reads the advisory. “Confirmatory testing was performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since testing, the individual has been recovering well and is isolating until symptoms have resolved. This is the first known clade I mpox case in NYC and the twelfth clade I mpox diagnosis in the United States.”

What is Mpox?

Formerly known as monkeypox, mpox is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus . Common symptoms of mpox are a skin rash or lesions, which can last two to four weeks. Fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes are also common, according to the World Health Organization.

Mpox spreads from person to person through close contact with someone who has mpox, including members of a household. Close contact includes skin-to-skin, kissing, and ssexually, accoridng to the WHO.

Mpox Vaccination

Vaccination can reduce the risk of individuals getting mpox, for more information click here.

Local transmission of mpox clade I in New York City and the risk of infection remains low for New Yorkers, said NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

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