The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness says COVID-inspired monkeypox disinformation is all over social media and it could incite panic.
With more than 40 confirmed or probable cases, the state has widened its access to the vaccine used to help patients try and avoid some of the rare virus' symptoms.
As of mid-July, New Jersey health officials reported at least 31 probable or confirmed cases, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had reported more than 1,000 total confirmed monkeypox/orthopoxvirus cases.
As it is in the same virus family as smallpox, the existing smallpox vaccine has proven highly effective (85%) against monkeypox, according to public health experts.