The latest infection numbers for mpox, the disease formerly known as monkeypox, are from two weeks ago before the Pride Parade in New York City.

Because the incubation period could be up to four weeks, some doctors are worried the infection rate could spike.

What You Need To Know

  • The city's health commissioner, Dr. Ashwin Vasan said the best way to protect oneself from mpox is through the vaccine

  • Roughly 40% of the at-risk population has received both doses of the mpox vaccine

  • Vasan said at the height of the outbreak, the health department saw 70 cases a day, but now they see one to two cases a week

“We are being cautiously prepared,” said Marcus Sandling, clinical director of sexual health at Callen-Lorde Community Health Partner Community Health Center.

Sandling said he dealt with 100 mpox cases last year.

Anyone can get the disease, caused by a virus, but men who have sex with men contracted it in greater numbers during the 2022 outbreak.

At Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, doctors like Sandling provide services to the LGBTQ community. He said this year there’s only been one mpox case.

“This is how it happened the last time where there was a very small trickle. There was some confusion. People were coming in and then out of nowhere, the cases rapidly expanded,” Sandling said.

The city's health commissioner, Dr. Ashwin Vasan says the big difference now is the vaccination.

“We’re seeing on the order of one or two cases a week, when in the last year, we had about 70-plus cases a day,” Vasan said.

Last year, there were supply chain issues, but now roughly 40% of the at-risk population has received both doses of the mpox vaccine.

“We need everyone who got a dose last year or got a dose recently, go get the second dose,” Vasan said.

Last month, though, there were breakthrough cases in Chicago where vaccinated people were infected. Vasan said his team is following developments there and encouraging New Yorkers to get their shots.

Those who fit the criteria can schedule a vaccination appointment at vaccinefinder.nyc.gov.

Two doses are needed for the vaccine. If it’s been a while since the first dose of the vaccine, a person can still get the second dose.