36 new monkeypox cases reported in Massachusetts

BOSTON — The number of new monkeypox cases in the Commonwealth continue to climb.

State health officials confirmed 36 new cases in the state, bringing the confirmed total number of cases to 115 since the first case was diagnosed on May 18.

The 36 cases announced Thursday had been diagnosed between July 21 and July 27, according to DPH.

Although number of health care providers and locations offering vaccination across the state has expanded to 13, the JYNNEOS vaccine in Massachusetts still remains limited due to a national shortage.

“DPH is working with local health officials, the patients, and healthcare providers to identify individuals who may have been in contact with the patients while they were infectious. Individuals with monkeypox are advised to isolate and avoid contact with others until they are no longer infectious,” according to a statement from the agency.

“Current data from CDC indicate that there have been 4,303 cases of monkeypox virus this year in US residents as of July 27,” said DPH. “While the virus does not spread easily between people, people can spread the infection once they develop symptoms.”

The number of health care providers and locations offering vaccination across the state has expanded to 11 as federal allocation of the vaccine has been increased. As of July 20, 2,952 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine had been administered.

DPH says monkeypox can spread through:

• Direct skin-to-skin contact with rash lesions. Sexual/intimate contact, including kissing while a person is infected.
• Living in a house and sharing a bed with someone. Sharing towels or unwashed clothing.
• Respiratory secretions through face-to-face interactions (the type that mainly happen when living with someone or caring for someone who has monkeypox)

DPH says monkeypox does not spread through:

• Casual conversations. Walking by someone with monkeypox in a grocery store, for instance. Touching items like doorknobs.

“Clinicians are asked to be alert to the possibility of monkeypox virus infection in individuals who have rash illnesses consistent with monkeypox,” said DPH. “Early symptoms of monkeypox can include fever, headache, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes, but rash may be the first symptom.”

More information about monkeypox is available on the DPH and CDC websites.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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