On Tuesday (August 2), Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in California over the spread of monkeypox.
Los Angeles County quickly followed suit, declaring their own state of emergency. Though cases of the disease have been confirmed in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, neither government body has yet to declare an emergency. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more than 1000 cases of monkeypox in California.
Monkeypox spreads primarily through direct contact, through touching materials used by an infected person, and by respiratory secretions during prolonged, close, face-to-face contact. The Department of Public Health is partnering with healthcare providers to make the monkeypox vaccine more widely available.
The County has created a dedicated monkeypox email address ([email protected]) for residents and providers. Individuals who are interested in the vaccine may complete the Monkeypox Vaccine Interest Form.
To learn more, visit wp.sbcounty.gov/dph/monkeypox or call the Communicable Disease Section at 1 (800) 722-4794.
