Sacramento County officials declare monkeypox emergency as cases rise
Sacramento County officials on Tuesday declared a public health and local emergency as monkeypox cases continue to increase.
In a release, the county stated the emergency proclamation is to increase resources, staffing and aid from other agencies to better deal with the rise in cases. This also includes access to vaccines. The declaration is also a "prerequisite for requesting and receiving available federal or state funding," the county said in a release.
“Proclaiming a state of emergency in response to Monkeypox helps the County to ensure uninterrupted access to resources necessary to lessen disease transmission,” Don Nottoli, chairman of the County Board of Supervisors, said in the release. “The proclamations should not be a reason for elevated concern; but rather, considered as mechanisms to assist in our mission to better respond to and contain the virus.”
California state officials earlier this month also declared an emergency, with the intent of enabling emergency medical services personnel to administer monkeypox vaccines, along with deploying vaccine clinics through local and community organization partnerships.
Sacramento County's public health department reports 80 probable and confirmed cases of monkeypox as of Tuesday.
| INTERACTIVE MAP BELOW | Hover over a map of California monkeypox cases by county
Also happening this Tuesday, state lawmakers are holding an oversight hearing on the state and local response to monkeypox. The group is also expecting an update from the administration on lawmakers' request to approve $35.8 million in emergency funds to help counties respond to the virus.
Monkeypox symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. The patient can also develop a rash days later that often begins in the face and spreads to other parts of the body. It can cause lesions. The illness can last anywhere from two to four weeks. Some people only develop the rash as their first symptom.
Monkeypox virus can be transmitted when a person comes into contact with an animal, human or materials like clothing or bedding contaminated with the virus. The virus can enter the body through the broken skin of a lesion, respiratory tract, or mucous membranes, which include the eyes, mouth and nose.
Watch Below | Dr. Erica Pan explains what monkeypox state of emergency declaration means in California