Public Health Emergency Proclaimed In RivCo Due To Monkeypox Spread

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The growing spread of monkeypox in Riverside County prompted Public Health Officer Dr. Geoffrey Leung on Monday to proclaim a public health emergency.

“We have seen the devastating physical effects of monkeypox on those who have been infected, as well as the emotional toll on partners, family and loved ones,” Leung said. “Now is the time for Public Health, our community partners and local leadership to reinforce our commitment to work together to slow and eventually stop the spread of this virus.”

Monday's proclamation is intended to reinforce the message that county health officials view the virus as a threat to all county residents. The local proclamation is also designed to boost lobbying efforts aimed at bringing additional vaccine to Riverside County, which has been in limited supply.

Vaccination helps protect against monkeypox when given before or shortly after exposure, according to health officials. The vaccine is licensed for use in adults 18 years and over and is administered as a two-dose injection series.

The California Department of Public Health has allocated a limited number of JYNNEOS vaccine doses to Riverside County, but local officials have pushed for more.

(Related: Amid HIV Cases, Coachella Valley Pleads For Monkeypox Vaccines)

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors has seven days to ratify Leung's action.

Both state and federal health officials, as well as a handful of counties and cities in California, have proclaimed monkeypox a public health emergency. San Diego County and the city of San Franciso are among them.

Monkeypox spreads primarily through direct contact with infectious sores, scabs, or body fluids, including during sex, as well as activities like kissing, hugging, massaging and cuddling. The virus can spread through touching materials used by a person with monkeypox that haven’t been cleaned, such as clothing and bedding. It can also spread by respiratory secretions during prolonged, close, face-to-face contact, according to local health officials.

On Monday county health officials reported 59 probable/confirmed monkeypox cases in Riverside County. There have been a handful of patients who have been briefly hospitalized, but no deaths from the virus have been reported in the county.

In addition to vaccination, Riverside County is working with community partners to provide Tecovirimat for infected patients who are at higher risk of severe disease from monkeypox. At this time, most patients have not required TPOXX and symptoms have resolved on their own with symptom management strategies, according to county health officials.