LOS ANGELES (CNS) — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday ratified a local emergency declaration in response to the monkeypox outbreak.
Board President Holly Mitchell issued a proclamation late Monday declaring an emergency in Los Angeles County, where more than 400 cases of smallpox have been identified so far, nearly double the number a week ago.
“This proclamation is critical to helping us get ahead of this virus,” Mitchell said in a statement. “By declaring a local emergency, it allows us to cut red tape to better dedicate resources and educate residents on how to protect themselves and help stop the spread. It will also allow the county to administer vaccines quickly as more vaccines become available and make the necessary efforts to obtain supplies and improve outreach and awareness.”
The Board of Supervisors unanimously ratified the declaration this Tuesday.
As part of the proclamation, the Board of Supervisors will request that recovery assistance be made available under the California Disaster Assistance Act and that the state expedite access to state resources and federal and any other appropriate federal disaster relief programs.
The Board of Supervisors will also direct county departments to implement all assessment, assistance and monitoring efforts, as appropriate.
Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a state of emergency for California on Monday in response to an increase in monkeypox cases in the state. New York also issued an emergency declaration, as did San Francisco.
Supervisor Janice Hahn tweeted Monday that she supports the emergency declaration.
“I hope this helps vaccination efforts and ultimately helps slow the spread of this virus,” Hahn said in a tweet.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a statement that the county “must gather all available support to expedite the distribution of vaccines and resources to those at risk and affected by this terrible disease. I will work to make sure we do that quickly and efficiently. We have no time to waste.”
A total of 824 monkeypox cases were confirmed in California on Monday, the second-highest of any state behind New York’s 1,390, while nationwide the total count was 5,811, according to the latest data of the Centers for USA. Disease control and prevention. There were more than 400 cases in Los Angeles County as of Tuesday, mostly in gay men.
Monkeypox is usually spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, resulting in infectious rashes and scabs, although respiratory secretions and body fluids exchanged during prolonged physical episodes, such as sexual intercourse, can also cause transmission, according to the CDC. It can also be spread by sharing items such as bedding and towels.
Symptoms include pimples, blisters, rashes, fever and fatigue. There is no specific treatment. People who have been infected with smallpox, or have been vaccinated against it, may have immunity to smallpox.
According to health officials, the vaccine can prevent infection if given before or shortly after exposure to the virus.
According to the CDC, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men are at increased risk of contracting the virus.
Last week, the Board of Supervisors voted to direct federal health officials to obtain more smallpox vaccine supplies and increase funding for vaccine testing and administration. The county has been slowly expanding eligibility for the JYNNEOS monkeypox vaccine, but supplies remain extremely limited.
In Los Angeles County, monkeypox vaccines are available to people who have been confirmed by the Department of Public Health to have had high or immediate risk contact with a known monkeypox patient, and to people who attended an event or visited a place where they were at high risk. risk of exposure to a confirmed case. These individuals are generally identified through the county’s contact tracing efforts, and the county will notify them.
Vaccinations are also available for gay and bisexual men and transgender people with a diagnosis of rectal gonorrhea or early syphilis within the last year.
Also eligible for vaccinations are gay or bisexual men or transgender people who are on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, or who attended or worked in a sex shop or other place where they had anonymous sex or with multiple partners. such as a sauna, bath or sex club, in the last 21 days.
Eligibility was expanded on Tuesday to include gay or bisexual men or transgender people aged 18 or older who have had multiple or anonymous sexual partners in the past 14 days.
People who think they fit any of the criteria can contact their health care provider to see if that provider can administer the vaccine.
Eligible individuals who do not have a health care provider, or whose provider does not carry the vaccine, can make an appointment at a designated vaccine clinic or visit an entry site. Information is available at ph.lacounty.gov/monkeypox. A list of monkeypox vaccine locations is available here.
The county has also activated a website where residents can fill out an online form to see if they might be eligible for a bump and pre-register to be added to a waiting list.
People who register on the site and are eligible for the vaccine will receive a text message when it is available, with information on where to receive the vaccine.
The registration website is here.
The county will open a monkeypox vaccination site Wednesday at the West Hollywood library, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd., for people who pre-register for the shot. It will be open by appointment only from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m
The vaccine is a two-shot regimen, so additional supplies will be held to provide second doses to those who received the initial shot.
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