"Two people in Worcester were diagnosed with mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, as the state's Department of Health warns providers there's been a concerning uptick of the virus in Massachusetts this fall. Dr. Michael P. Hirsh, Worcester's medical director, raised concerns for the city's homelessness population after the Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued a clinical advisory at the end of October due to the "concerning trend.""
"In Massachusetts, DPH said a small subset of people who have two vaccine doses prior to 2025 "tend to experience mild disease compared to unvaccinated cases," the clinical advisory said. Men who have sex with men and people with multiple sexual partners are at the highest risk of developing mpox."
As of Dec. 1, Massachusetts recorded 51 confirmed mpox cases in 2024, with 37 cases reported between Aug. 1 and Dec. 1. Two cases in Worcester involved women who are both homeless and sex workers. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued a clinical advisory at the end of October noting a concerning uptick and the likelihood of unreported cases. A subset of people with two vaccine doses prior to 2025 tend to experience milder disease compared to unvaccinated cases. Men who have sex with men and people with multiple sexual partners face the highest risk. Worcester partnered with shelters and community organizations to host three vaccination clinics.
Read at Boston.com
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