Editor’s note: The video above aired in a previous newscast.

NEW YORK (PIX11) – New York City is seeing an uptick in cases of an infectious disease that causes a painful rash, known as mpox clade I, especially among those returning from overseas travel in Europe, according to the NYC Department of Mental Hygiene. 

“We have seen recent cases of clade I mpox among people returning from travel to Europe,” read a social post from the agency posted on Friday afternoon. “If you’re traveling to Europe and may be sexually active with new partners while there, make sure to get both doses of the JYNNEOS mpox vaccine before you go.” 

 Discover more local reporting on our homepage 

The first known case of mpox clade I in the city was reported in March. An individual who tested positive for the virus had traveled internationally, according to NYC health officials.

Within the last month, 14 cases of Mpox have been reported in the city, according to data

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 household members. Close contact includes skin-to-skin, kissing, and sexual contact, according to the WHO.

Though anyone can test positive for mpox, globally the disease has affected primarily gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men, according to the World Health Organization. 

The NYC Health Department recommends completing the two-dose JYNNEOS series. If you’ve already received the first dose, it is never too late to get the second, health officials noted. 

If you have already been vaccinated, there is no recommendation to receive a booster, according to current health guidance. If you have already tested positive for mpox, you should already be immune, according to health officials. 

For more information on mpox, click here.

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.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.