NYC declares monkeypox state of emergency

NEW YORK - New York City Mayor Eric Adams has declared a state of emergency due to the monkeypox outbreak.  The city estimates that 150,000 people, mostly men who have sex with other men, are at risk.

The city has more than 1,200 reported cases of monkeypox, about 25 percent of all cases in the United States.

"We are continuing to see the numbers rise," Mayor Adams said in a statement.  "This order will bolster our existing efforts to educate, vaccinate, test, and treat as many New Yorkers as possible and ensure a whole-of-government response to this outbreak."

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The governor had already issued a state of emergency for the entire state.

The city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene had declared the outbreak a public health emergency on Saturday.

Monday's emergency executive order allows the mayor to suspend local laws, and enact new health rules.

The city is facing a drastic shortage of monkeypox vaccines with appointments filling up just minutes after they're released.  The city expects to get around 80,000 monkeypox vaccine doses in the coming days. 

Monkeypox Symptoms

Monkeypox begins as a rash or sores that can look like pimples or blisters. These bumps can appear all over the body — including your face, hands, feet, mouth, genitals or anus — and can become infected.

The symptoms usually start between a week to two weeks after exposure but may not appear for up to 21 days. The sickness can last from two to four weeks with flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, headache, and body aches and pains—like a weaker version of smallpox. 

"If you have a new or unexpected rash or other symptoms of monkeypox, contact a health care provider," the New York City Health Department states. "A person is contagious until all sores have healed, and a new layer of skin has formed, which can take two to four weeks."