NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Two more people have tested positive for monkeypox in New York City, bringing the total number of cases to four nearly two weeks after the city's first case, city officials said Wednesday.
"Two more people have tested positive for orthopoxvirus in NYC, which is presumed to be monkeypox," the city's health department tweeted. "We will be conducting contact tracing and monitoring and will refer people for care if necessary. Monkeypox is rare in New York City but we can prevent the spread."
The latest positive infections, according to Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, bring the total to "four known cases in the city."
Monkeypox is characterized by flu-like symptoms, pustules, swollen lymph nodes and rashes. It can be fatal for up to one in 10 patients and is more severe in children.
Several smallpox vaccines have proven to be effective at mitigating the spread of monkeypox.
Though the number of cases have risen in New York City, The World Health Organization's top monkeypox expert said Monday that she doesn't expect the hundreds of cases reported to date to turn into another pandemic, though there are still many unknowns about the disease.
Last week, WHO said 23 countries that haven't previously had monkeypox have now reported more than 250 cases. On Monday, the U.K. announced another 71 monkeypox cases.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
