First Presumed Monkeypox Case Confirmed In Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Orange County's first presumptive case of monkeypox was confirmed by health officials Thursday, an Orange County Health Care Agency spokesperson said.

No details have been released about the patient, who health officials said remained in isolation.

The agency is currently awaiting final confirmation of the disease from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an OC Health Care Agency news release said. In the meantime, the agency is conducting contact tracing and post-exposure prevention for close contacts of the patient.

"We consider it serious, and it is an ongoing investigation as to the extent of it in our county," Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Doug Chaffee told City News Service. "After that investigation we'll let the public know how to combat it. When we have more information we'll let the public know."

The infection came to light earlier this week when a primary care physician suspected it and alerted the county's Communicable Disease Control unit, one official said.

“The Public Health Services (PHS) CDCD team is working with all relevant agencies and partners to track, control, and curtail the spread of monkeypox within the county,” Dr. Christopher Zimmerman, CDCD Physician said in a news release. “The affected individual is already in isolation and exposed contacts are in the process to receive post exposure prophylaxis vaccination.”

According to the news release, the outbreak of monkeypox in fifty countries across the world has resulted in 4,769 cases as of Tuesday. In the United States, there are 306 cases from 26 states.

In response to the outbreak, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a nationwide vaccination strategy to stop the spread of monkeypox Thursday.

RELATED: Feds Expand Monkeypox Vaccine Access: Will CA Get Doses?

The vaccine won’t be available to everyone. The Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday it is prioritizing areas with the highest numbers of cases and those most at-risk for the illness.

Californians can contact their local health department to see if they are eligible for a Jynneos vaccine as the federal government allocates more to the states.

To prevent the spread of monkeypox in Orange County, the agency asked residents to be aware of the risks and how monkeypox spreads.

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus, and can be spread through having close physical contact, including sex.

People who have symptoms of monkeypox, particularly rashes or lesions, are asked to take the following steps:

• Visit a medical provider for examination.
• Cover the area of the rash with clothing.
• Wear a mask.
• Isolate in a separate room or area from family members and pets.

For more information on monkeypox, including case counts, prevention strategies and vaccination, visit the OC Health Care Agency's website.