July 12, 2022

Yesterday we received short notice of a Webinar co-hosted by NYS Health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett and NYC Health Commissioner Ashwin Vashan.  The Webinar was offered to city and state stakeholders interested in learning more about Monkeypox and its’ current spread throughout New York State.  I circulated the Notice as soon as I received it, but the event was held from 5:30 – 6:30 so I’m sure many of you missed it.

A recording of the Webinar is available on the DoH Website.
Here’s the link:https://health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/zoonoses/monkeypox/

I took some screenshots from the Power Point used during the Webinar.  I have attached a group of slides that I think will be useful for the moment.  At this time, the ‘epicenter’ of new cases of Monkeypox is New York City.   This is a highly communicable virus that can spread from person to person through a number of means.  A vaccine is available, although there is a severe shortage of it at the present time.  And while NYC has an infection rate of almost 28% of those tested, to date the city and state has received just 17% of the total available stockpile of vaccines, from the federal government.

Please review the slide regarding transmission. If a client or an employee has any symptoms, he/she should call the city or state health department and arrange to be tested as soon as possible.  Residential programs should be aware of the potential for transmission through (just an example) the use of a towel, bed clothing or bed sheets used by someone who has/ may have the virus.