Skip to content Skip to Content

Monkeypox: 30 more cases reported; half of 158 countywide cases are patients in Palm Springs

0:00/ 0:28LIVEQualityAuto 720p  AudioSubtitleSpeedNormal  

Riverside County reported 30 more confirmed or probable monkeypox cases today, with Palm Springs now making up exactly half of the overall number of 158.

Riverside University Health System provides updated numbers on a monkeypox dashboard that shares a breakdown of cases in the county with city-by-city data and more.

Last Wednesday, the county's cases stood at 107, up from 71 the previous week. The county's first probable or confirmed case in a female was reported last week.

On Tuesday, Riverside County received 690 vials of the monkeypox vaccine from the California Department of Public Health. 

But as monkeypox cases continue to grow in the Coachella Valley, there’s not enough vaccines to keep up with demand.

“We're still in limited supply compared to the need in our county," said Dr. Jennifer Chevinsky, Riverside County's Deputy Public Health Officer.

The county declared a public health emergency in early August to focus attention on the virus. State and federal officials also proclaimed emergencies.

If you're interested in getting the monkeypox vaccine, you can fill out the county's interest form here.


MORE: Palm Springs releases initial results of monkeypox testing in city’s wastewater

Watch: Indio wastewater being tested for monkeypox

According to health officials, the monkeypox vaccine can prevent infection if given before or shortly after exposure to the virus. The county is working with community partners to expand eligibility for the two-shot vaccines to include at-risk individuals, and to set up treatment sites with Tecovirimat -- an antiviral medication used to treat orthopoxvirus infections such as monkeypox.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health advise that the vaccine be prioritized for high-risk and exposed patients. Gay and bisexual men are at increased risk of contracting the virus, according to the CDC.

The World Health Organization has declared monkeypox a ``public health emergency of international concern.''

As of Tuesday, a total of 2,663 monkeypox cases were confirmed in California -- the second-highest of any state, behind New York's 3,019 -- while nationwide, the aggregate count was at 15,909, according to the latest CDC data.

Monkeypox is generally spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, resulting from infectious rashes and scabs, though respiratory secretions and bodily fluids exchanged during extended physical episodes such as sexual intercourse can also lead to transmission, according to the CDC.

Symptoms include pimples, blisters, rashes, fever and fatigue. There is no specific treatment. People who have been infected with smallpox, or have been vaccinated for it, may have immunity to monkeypox.

People with symptoms are urged to visit a medical provider, cover the rash area with clothing, wear a mask and avoid close or skin-to-skin contact with others.

The CDC particularly recommends those steps for people who recently traveled to an area where monkeypox cases have been reported or who have had contact with a confirmed or suspected monkeypox case.

Resources

There are a number of ways to prevent the spread of monkeypox, including:

  • Always talking to your sexual partner/s about any recent illness and being aware of new or unexplained sores or rashes on your body or your partner’s body, including on the genitals and anus
  • Avoiding close contact, including sex, with people with symptoms like sores or rashes
  • Practicing good hand hygiene
  • People who become infected should isolate until their symptoms are improving or have gone away completely. Rash should always be well covered until completely healed.
  • Using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) (like a mask, gown, and gloves) when caring for others with symptoms
  • Avoiding contact with infected materials contaminated with the virus
  • Avoiding contact with infected animals

Monkeypox is generally spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, resulting from infectious rashes and scabs, though respiratory secretions and bodily fluids exchanged during extended physical episodes, such as sexual intercourse, can also lead to transmission, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

Symptoms include fresh pimples, blisters, rashes, fever and fatigue. There is no specific treatment. People who have been infected with smallpox, or have been vaccinated for it, may have immunity to monkeypox.

People with symptoms are urged to visit a medical provider, cover the rash area with clothing, wear a mask and avoid close or skin-to-skin contact with others.

The CDC particularly recommends those steps for people who recently traveled to an area where monkeypox cases have been reported or who have had contact with a confirmed or suspected monkeypox case.

A full list of countries that have confirmed monkeypox cases is available at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/monkeypox.
A state-by-state tally of cases is available at www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/response/2022/us-map.html.

Link: CDC’s tips for preventing exposure to Monkeypox. 

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

Article Topic Follows: News

Jump to comments ↓

City News Service

KESQ News Team

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

News Channel 3 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.