NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan Addresses WHO Mpox Health Emergency

Dr. Ashwin Vasan is the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, stated that.

“For the second time in just over two years, the World Health Organization has declared mpox a global health emergency.

This action was necessary, and as the Health Commissioner of New York City – which was the epicenter of the mpox outbreak in the United States – we have learned many lessons from the 2022 outbreak, and we are prepared.

While the current risk to New Yorkers and Americans is low, we must not only plan ahead but act now. In 2022, New York City introduced a range of pathbreaking interventions that were adopted all over the country.

But it was not easy. Outbreaks are difficult to control, and it is sometimes challenging to predict exactly who will be affected. These uncertainties cannot delay preparation, and the moment to act is now.

Dr. Vasan continued, stating that, “We must also advocate for resources to flow to the parts of the world most affected because we know stopping outbreaks at their source is the smartest way to respond. As we learn time and again, we are connected, and we cannot stand by and hope that another country’s suffering will not reach us. Prevention means we must be as invested in each other as we are in ourselves. It is not only moral and ethical, but also strategic.”

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“In New York City, we continue to emphasize the importance of vaccination and encourage anyone at risk who has not done so to get vaccinated now. Two doses are needed for maximum protection, so anyone who did not get their second dose should do so immediately. We also encourage everyone to educate themselves and to explore our resources on what to know and how to protect yourself from mpox.

“Preparation and information are the antidotes to fear and inertia, so rest assured we are prepared and we will continue to keep New Yorkers informed about the risk of mpox in our city,” Dr. Vasan stated.