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Q&A
Council Member Schulman questions DOHMH on MPox (monkeypox) cases and response
3:32:47
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138 sec
Council Member Lynn Schulman engages in a Q&A session with DOHMH officials, including Acting Commissioner Michelle Morse and Deputy Commissioner Dr. Celia Quinn, about the current state of MPox (monkeypox) cases in New York City and the department's efforts to contain and treat the virus. The discussion covers recent case numbers, vaccination efforts, and ongoing preventive measures.
- As of May 8, 2025, 37 people in New York City have tested positive for Mpox, with 17 cases reported from April 6 to May 3.
- DOHMH continues to offer free or reduced-cost Mpox vaccinations and provides counseling and education through sexual health clinics.
- The department investigates every reported case of Mpox and offers post-exposure prophylaxis to those who were exposed.
Lynn Schulman
3:32:47
I'm gonna talk about m the mPOXX response.
3:32:49
As of May 8, '30 '7 people in New York City have tested positive for m pox so far in 2025.
3:32:55
There were seventeen cases from April 6 to May 3.
3:32:58
What is the total number of m pox cases since last year?
Michelle Morse
3:33:03
I'm glad that you're still asking about mPOXX.
3:33:05
It has not gone away.
3:33:07
You're right.
Lynn Schulman
3:33:07
It has not gone away, no.
Michelle Morse
3:33:08
And we do have on our website, we have information about where New Yorkers can go to get free or reduced cost MPOXX vaccinations depending on their risk factors.
3:33:21
I do not have the number at the top of my head about the number of MPOXX cases, but we can get back to you with that.
Lynn Schulman
3:33:27
You have it?
Michelle Morse
3:33:31
We'll get back to you shortly with that.
Lynn Schulman
3:33:33
What efforts are you doing to contain and treat MPOXX because we're getting into that time of year?
Michelle Morse
3:33:40
We still work very, so in the sexual health clinics that we run we certainly do a lot of counseling and education of people who come in to our sexual health clinics about if they have risk factors for mPOXX, you know our advice and guidance to them about whether or not they should get vaccinated.
3:33:57
And we also continuously, through our sexual health clinics and our partnerships with many, many other primary care clinics across the city, are constantly sharing information with providers and patient and community members about what the risks are for MPOXX and how to prevent those risks.
3:34:13
So that work is ongoing and it's fully embedded in our existing sexual health clinics.
Lynn Schulman
3:34:20
Are you concerned at all about the current rate of mPOXX positive cases or?
Michelle Morse
3:34:24
We are always looking at the numbers.
3:34:27
We're certainly always making sure that there isn't a significant change in the numbers.
3:34:32
Our current assessment of course is that we should still counsel individuals that have risk factors to go ahead and get vaccinated, But I'll pass to Doctor.
3:34:42
Quinn to share the exact numbers.
Dr. Celia Quinn
3:34:44
Yes.
3:34:45
So through the May we had thirty seven cases reported during 2025.
3:34:50
And we still investigate every case of mPOXX that's reported to the health department to also offer post exposure prophylaxis to people who were exposed.
3:34:59
And then I think doctor Morris really well described the preventive work that we're doing.
Lynn Schulman
3:35:04
K.