Monkeypox: 5 patients in eastern Riverside County
Two more men are being treated for "confirmed/probable" monkeypox in eastern Riverside County, News Channel 3 learned Monday.
This brings the total number of patients in the county who are considered likely or confirmed to have the virus to five. All of them are residents of eastern Riverside County, which includes Coachella Valley.
Of the two newer cases, health officials tell News Channel 3 that one of them is a man under the age of 35, who is hospitalized. The other is a man under 60.
For reference, at the beginning of June, there was one probable case of monkeypox in Riverside County.
Last week, two more probable cases were reported. Both of those were in men under the age of 60 years.
Earlier in July, one of the cases was confirmed to be monkeypox by the CDC.
MORE: Riverside County’s first probable monkeypox case involves Coachella Valley patient
Health officials say you should talk with a doctor if:
- You believe you were exposed to Monkeypox
OR - You develop symptoms, such as fever, headache muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills exhaustion or a rash that looks like pimples or blisters
Residents are encouraged to review the CDC’s tips for preventing exposure to monkeypox.
Check Out Our Full Interview with Riverside County's Chief of Disease Control
From Riverside County Health:
You can see a full list of symptoms at: https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/symptoms.html
To learn more, or if you believe you have been exposed to Monkeypox, call (951) 358-5107.
Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.
Health officials in riverside county are now tracking two more “probable” cases of monkeypox —
This brings the total number of suspected cases in the eastern riverside county to four – with one confirmed case.
News channel three’s Miyoshi Price visited the Desert Aids Project and she spoke with some locals to see what their reaction was to what some people would call stigmatization of the LGBTQ Plue community.
We do know all of the cases in riverside county involve men, while we don’t know how they may have contracted monkeypox. But many of the recent monkeypox cases nationally have been found in men who have sex with men.
Trevor Manning a local resident of Palm springs said, "During hiv? It was the gay disease. And so, you know, it's kind of like to repeat performance". Because there has been possible stigmatization, Desert Aids Project Doctor David Morris said " "Its always brought up, the ideas do not say this is a gay disease, we are not saying that. Were saying this was found at sexual wellness clinics and testing centers and they were mostly msm that were being tested but we dont want to say this is a sexual transmitted disease we dont want to say this is a gay disease".
Health experts say monkeypox is spread predominately by skin-to-skin contact and it can impact anyone regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or age. Dr Morris said, "The stigma is a very fine line to walk on to alert the community to educated people but at the same time not go down that path of stigmatizing a people".
Some residents of Palm Springs wants everyone to see Monkey pox as a public health crisis and Alex Johnson, a resident of Palm SPrings said, "we all need to be aware of our surroundings".
D-a-p health does not yet have the vaccine. But expects doses in six to eight weeks. They are advocating for more monkeypox vaccines locally.
Johnson was happy saying, "I think a vaccination would be a good thing to have. But it can get ahead of this versus what happened with the covid pandemic. And so I'm happy to say that vaccinations are getting vaccinations out to the communities".
Others like Manning said, "I have already called my doctor's see about getting a vaccination and they're just not available".
Riverside County Health spokesperson tells me they have just over one-thousand doses of the vaccine…
But each person who gets the shot needs two doses.
DAP SHARES SAFER SEX PRACTICES SAYING:
- Have virtual sex with no in-person contact.
- Consider having sex with your clothes on or covering areas where there is rash or sore present.
- Avoid Kissing
DAP SAID THERE ARE SOME WAYS TO HELP PREVENT INFECTION WITH THE MONKEYPOX VIRUS:
- Avoid contact with animals that could harbor the virus.
- Avoid contact with any materials, such as bedding, that has been in contact with a sick animal.
- Practice good hand hygiene after contact with infected animals or humans.
For more tips: visit www.daphealth.org/monkeypox
For vaccine Updates at Desert Aids Project: https://www.daphealth.org/dap-health-update-on-the-monkeypox-virus/
