(Bloomberg) -- Governor Kathy Hochul said New York has secured 8,195 monkeypox vaccines amid an outbreak in the state. 

The state will work on vaccine distribution plans to protect New Yorkers, with special attention to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community, which is more at risk of contracting the virus, Hochul said in a statement Thursday.

“I recognize the fear and anxiety this outbreak has caused, especially for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, which is why my team and I will continue to work around the clock to secure as many vaccines as possible for our residents,” Hochul said.

Monkeypox usually occurs as a rash that is sometimes accompanied by flu-like symptoms or swollen lymph nodes. Symptoms usually ease on their own within a few weeks without treatment. The US outbreak has expanded to 351 cases, with no deaths linked to the disease, and there are more than 5,115 cases globally, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Of the more than 8,000 single doses of the Jynneos vaccine the state is receiving, 5,989 have been allocated to New York City. To be fully vaccinated, residents will need to receive a total of two doses. A total of 78 people in New York City are presumed to have tested positive for monkeypox, according to city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. 

Health officials expect the doses to arrive soon, but are awaiting further direction from the CDC. “We will continue to work with Dr. Jha and the federal government to ensure future allocations reflect the needs of New Yorkers,” Hochul said in the city’s press release.

As cases continue to increase, health officials have said transmission has primarily been among men who have sex with men, though the virus can infect anyone. Officials have urged that members in high-risk groups to be cautious when making plans to patronize clubs, raves, saunas and taking part in intimate gatherings. 

Understanding Monkeypox and How Outbreaks Spread: QuickTake

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