The New York City Department of Health confirmed the first case of a severe strain of the mpox virus, formerly known as monkeypox, in New York City.
Health officials said Friday that the case is travel related and there is no known local transmission at this time of the mpox clade I virus.
“Mpox spreads through close or intimate contact,” NYC Emergency Management said on X. “People who may benefit from vaccination include people who have sex with men and identify as male, trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, or gender nonconforming; people planning to travel to countries where clade I mpox is spreading and who anticipate sex with a new partner while traveling, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity; and anyone who considers themselves at risk through sex or other intimate contact now or in the future.”
Clade I is said to cause severe symptoms and can be fatal. Symptoms include rashes that cover the face and body. According to the National Institute of Health, the fatality rate ranges from 1.4% to more than 10%.
Health officials urge those who may at risk of the virus to get the two-dose JYNNEOS vaccine, which can both lower the chance of infection and reduce symptoms if someone becomes sick.
The mpox virus started to plague the city four years ago when thousands of people were exposed to it. The clade II strain of the virus was what people were exposed to in 2022. Clade II was a less severe illness and caused fewer deaths, with its symptoms including a rash or sore on the mouth or genitals.
Mpox symptoms usually start to show around three to 17 days after exposure and can last two to four weeks.
Since January 2026, around 45 people in New York City have tested positive for mpox virus — with 16 cases reported in the last month alone.
Health officials said vaccination sites are available at https://on.nyc.gov/3P6LQ2o or by calling 311 for assistance.