monkeypox cases are continuing to decline in the united states as the outbreak keeps showing signs of receding as of oct 12 the us recorded a sevenday average of 60 cases according to the centers for disease control and prevention more experts say elimination of monkeypox possible but containment still a challenge this is the lowest average recorded since june 29 which is right around the time that infections began climbing its also down from the sevenday average of 443 cases recorded in early august cdc data shows trends seen in cities across the country mirror those nationwide monkeypox cases in the united states cdc in new york city the epicenter of the outbreak the sevenday average has fallen to 2 as of oct 11 from the citys department of health mental hygiene this is a sharp decline from the peak of 73 recorded in late july and early august similarly in los angeles the sevenday average sits at 5 as of most recent data from oct 3 according to the los angeles county department of public health shows which is the lowest since early july its also a marked drop from the peak of 41 in late august dr shira doron an infectious disease physician and hospital epidemiologist at tufts medical center in boston told abc news the outbreak has fallen for a few reasons one being behavioral changes the outbreak has primarily been concentrated in men who have sex with men a group that includes people who identify as gay bisexual transgender and nonbinary although health officials have said anyone regardless of sexual orientation is at risk if they have direct contact with an infected person surveys have shown that highrisk groups listened to public health advice and made changes such as reducing the number of sexual partners and anonymous sexual encounters more monkeypox has disproportionately impacted hispanic and latino men in us there were really substantial changes among men who have sex men doron said high proportions said that they had made significant changes in their behavior another reason she said is vaccines as of oct 11 more than 906000 doses of the jynneos vaccine the only vaccine approved by the food and drug administration to prevent smallpox and monkeypox disease have been administered across the us according to the cdc to increase the number of jynneos doses available the fda authorized a new strategy in august to inject the vaccine intradermally just below the first layer of skin rather than subcutaneously or under all the layers of skin allowing one vial of vaccine to be given out as five separate doses rather than a single dose doron however said its too soon to claim victory over the outbreak and added that its important for those who are at highrisk to keep taking precautions a patient is inoculated with the monkeypox vaccine during a vaccination clinic at the oasis wellness center aug 19 2022 in new york mary altafferap file