Massachusetts Reports a Rise in Mpox Cases, with Worcester Being Affected; Health Officials Warn of a "Concerning" Uptick.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has reported 51 confirmed cases of mpox in the state so far this year, with 37 cases occurring between August 1st and December 1st. The latest two cases were diagnosed in Worcester, bringing the total number of cases in the city to two.
Dr. Michael P. Hirsh, Worcester's medical director, has expressed concerns for the city's homeless population after a clinical advisory was issued by the DPH at the end of October due to a "concerning trend" of mpox cases. The patients confirmed in Worcester were both women who are homeless and sex workers.
The City of Worcester has partnered with local shelters and community organizations to host three vaccination clinics against mpox, aiming to protect vulnerable populations from the virus. Men who have sex with men and people with multiple sexual partners are at a higher risk of developing mpox.
MPox is mostly spread through close skin-to-skin contact, including touching or sex, or mouth-to-mouth or face-to-face contact. It can also be contracted through clothing, needles, or tattoo parlors, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Symptoms include fever, cold symptoms, and a rash that often begins on the face and spreads to the body.
The DPH has warned of a "concerning" uptick in cases over the past few months, which is likely to be an underestimation due to unreported cases. The WHO had declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern for the second time in 2024, citing its potential to spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact.
As the number of cases rises, residents are advised to take precautions against the virus, including getting vaccinated and practicing safe sex. With more cases emerging, it's essential to stay informed about mpox and its transmission to protect yourself and your loved ones.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has reported 51 confirmed cases of mpox in the state so far this year, with 37 cases occurring between August 1st and December 1st. The latest two cases were diagnosed in Worcester, bringing the total number of cases in the city to two.
Dr. Michael P. Hirsh, Worcester's medical director, has expressed concerns for the city's homeless population after a clinical advisory was issued by the DPH at the end of October due to a "concerning trend" of mpox cases. The patients confirmed in Worcester were both women who are homeless and sex workers.
The City of Worcester has partnered with local shelters and community organizations to host three vaccination clinics against mpox, aiming to protect vulnerable populations from the virus. Men who have sex with men and people with multiple sexual partners are at a higher risk of developing mpox.
MPox is mostly spread through close skin-to-skin contact, including touching or sex, or mouth-to-mouth or face-to-face contact. It can also be contracted through clothing, needles, or tattoo parlors, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Symptoms include fever, cold symptoms, and a rash that often begins on the face and spreads to the body.
The DPH has warned of a "concerning" uptick in cases over the past few months, which is likely to be an underestimation due to unreported cases. The WHO had declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern for the second time in 2024, citing its potential to spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact.
As the number of cases rises, residents are advised to take precautions against the virus, including getting vaccinated and practicing safe sex. With more cases emerging, it's essential to stay informed about mpox and its transmission to protect yourself and your loved ones.
, but I guess we can't stop the spread of info now lol 
. On a more serious note, 51 cases is still super low compared to other countries like Germany or Belgium 
. Worcester's partnership with shelters and community orgs to host vaccination clinics is actually really cool 
, shows that people are coming together to help those in need. And let's not forget the importance of safe sex practices 
, gotta protect ourselves and our loved ones from this virus. I know it can be frustrating to hear about new cases, but like Dr Hirsh said, we gotta stay informed and take precautions 
.
I think we need to do a lot more to support our homeless population who are most affected by this virus. 
Vaccination clinics are a great start, but we also need to address the lack of affordable healthcare and sanitation options for them. 
We should be doing everything we can to keep our community safe and healthy. 
I'm also worried about the fact that mpox is mostly spread through intimate contact, which makes it really hard to prevent if you don't know who's infected. 
Let's all make sure to get vaccinated and practice safe sex, but let's also advocate for more resources to help our most vulnerable populations. 
. They have this amazing Korean BBQ thingy that looks so juicy! I wonder if they'd be willing to partner with a local organization to offer discounted meals for people in need... and speaking of which, have you guys seen those videos of street performers in Tokyo? The one with the guy playing the piano on the beach was insane 
. Anyway, back to mpox... yeah, it's always good to get vaccinated, but can we talk about how some cities have better public transportation systems than others? Like, I've been stuck in traffic for ages trying to get to Worcester and it's just crazy 
! like 2 confirmed cases already and it's mainly affecting homeless folks 
who are more vulnerable 
. need to get vaccinated ASAP 
and practice safe sex too 
gotta stay informed about this virus 
. worried about the uptick in cases 
and how it's spreading through close contact 
! 
, let me put that into perspective... with a population of around 7.07 million people, that's like 0.007% chance you'll get infected... but what really gets me is the uptick in cases over the past few months 
close skin-to-skin contact is like 75% of the risk factors 
, and we all know how easily that can happen... especially for vulnerable populations like homeless people and sex workers 
, those 3 clinics so far have protected around 200 people... but it's just not enough with new cases popping up every month 
. I mean, I know it's still around but shouldn't we have learned our lesson by now? The homeless population in Worcester is definitely at risk and I hope those vaccination clinics are doing well. I'm not sure why more people aren't getting vaccinated, like isn't mpox a thing of the past? 
Anyway, gotta make sure to spread awareness about it so people know what they're dealing with.
!! im not surprised tho cuz we all know sex workers and homeless ppl r already at a higher risk 4 the virus lol. but seriously, its concerning 2 see people gettin infected without even knowin it 
. i hope more ppl take this seriously & get vaccinated 
," so let's put our money where our mouth is! We need to take concrete steps to support our homeless population and encourage everyone to get vaccinated 
. Let's all do our part and spread awareness about mpox to prevent its spread 
. We just need to be more aware of our surroundings and take the necessary precautions.
and im worried about people who hav multiple sex partners or are ms with m... 
gotta take precautions & stay informed 
. It's just sad that we're having to deal with this again... it feels like we should've learned our lesson by now 
. We gotta stay vigilant and take care of ourselves, especially those in high-risk groups 
also, men who have multiple sexual partners should be extra careful 