Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday declared a state of emergency to bolster efforts to combat monkeypox.
Newsom said the declaration will help California coordinate a government-wide response, seek more vaccines, and lead outreach and education efforts on where people can get treatment and vaccination.
“We’ll continue to work with the federal government to secure more vaccines, raise awareness about reducing risk, and stand with the LGBTQ community fighting stigmatization,” Newsom said in a statement.
Colusa County Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Kelly said there are no locally identified cases of monkeypox although more than 780 cases have been confirmed in the state, mostly in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The virus is part of the same family of viruses as variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. Symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder, and monkeypox is rarely fatal, health officials said.
Kelly said just 11 people were hospitalized with monkeypox, as of Tuesday, most staying two days.
The US plans to release 786,000 vaccines throughout the country. California is expecting to get 72,000 doses.
“We don’t anticipate at this time even making an ask for vaccines,” Kelly said. ■